PUNTA GORDA, Fla. – The Union College baseball team erased a five-run deficit with a seven-run fourth inning en route to an 11-9 win over Fredonia at the South County Sports Complex Monday afternoon. Colin McKelligan (Canton, Mass.) led the Dutchmen at the plate, going 3-for-5 with three RBI and a pair of runs scored, while Matt Rogers (Topsfield, Mass.) pitched eight innings in his first collegiate start. Union (2-2) wraps up its Florida swing with a Tuesday afternoon game against Otterbein.

 

The Blue Devils (2-7) jumped out to a five-run lead after three innings while holding the Dutchmen hitless. Don Kirsch plated Kevin Malaney with a sacrifice fly before Fredonia sent two more across on a pair of singles and a groundout in the bottom of the second. In the bottom of the next frame, the Blue Devils plated two with an RBI single from Dan Murphy and another Don Kirsch sac fly.

 

Colin McKelligan got things rolling for the Dutchmen, who batted around in the top of the fourth, with a two-RBI single to right before a Shawn Johnston (Hamilton, N.J.) RBI groundout. Dane Flavin (Schenectady, N.Y.) advanced the runners with a double to center and Andy Brown (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) sent McKelligan across the plate with a single to left. Brian McLaughlin (Norwood, N.J.) kept things going with a two-run double to left before Scott Carroll (Scituate, Mass.) plated McLaughlin with a single to left center.

 

The Dutchmen added one more run in the top of the fifth on a Johnston single through the right for an 8-5 lead before Union collected three more in the top of the seventh.

 

Carroll led off with an infield single and scored when Zach Tillo (Lancaster, Mass.) tripled to center. McKelligan plated Tillo with a single through the right before crossing on a Johnston triple down the right field line.

 

The Blue Devils got three runs back in the bottom of the inning, first when Murphy nailed a two-run triple down the right field line. He later scored on a Kirsch single to right center.

 

Fredonia closed the gap by one run in the bottom of the ninth on one hit off closer Jeremy LeFebvre (Cheshire, Mass.), but the freshman got out of the inning with a groundout and a flyout to center.

 

Rogers allowed 11 hits and eight runs (seven earned) in his first career win. LeFebvre earned the save allowing one run on one hit.

 

Jeremy Hulbert took the loss for the Blue Devils, surrendering seven runs on six hits.