Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

WINTER HAVEN, FL – For the first time in school history, the Union College baseball team is returning from its spring trip with a .500 winning percentage. Union knocked out 31 combined runs to sweep D'Youville in a doubleheader on Wednesday at the 2009 Russ Matt Central Florida Invitational. The Dutchmen took game one, 12-6, and game two, 19-2, and is now on a three game winnings streak.

 

Junior Paul Mene continued his hot streak with a 5-for-6 day with six RBI. Senior centerfielder Pat Wilson went 4-for-7 with a home run and four RBI.

 

Sophomore third baseman Jarid Hotaling went 4-for-7 with a double, two triples and one RBI and sophomore infielder Dane Flavin was 3-for-9 with two triples and an RBI. Freshman infielder Jared Henkel went 3-for-4 with three RBI.

 

In all 13 Dutchmen had hits during the two games and 10 had RBI.

After falling behind 2-0 in the top of the first, Hotaling and Flavin led off the Dutchmen's offensive attack with back-to-back triples. Mene immediately followed with a single to drive in Flavin.

 

Both teams stayed off the board and then the Dutchmen exploded for three runs in the third, four in the fourth and three in the fifth. Flavin tripled to lead off the third and once again Mene drove him home with a single. Freshman shortstop Kevin Dexter doubled to put Mene on third and junior second baseman Andy Brown drove them both in with a single to centerfield.

 

In the fourth, senior catcher Shawn Johnston and Hotaling repeated the first-inning feat with back-to-back three baggers to start the inning. Wilson hit a two run shot over the leftfield fence to add you Union's lead. It was his second of the season.

 

Mene hit an RBI double and Wilson had a RBI single in the. An additional run due to an error earlier in the inning gave Union its 12 run of the game.

 

David Arouca pitched six innings, striking out four and allowing three earned runs for this first win of the year. Freshman Justin Zolot saw his first collegiate action in the top of the seventh. He whiffed one batter.

The Dutchmen defense provided some hightlight-reel support for the two pitchers. Dexter made a diving-backhand-and-throw play to get the first batter in the third and Wilson had a diving grab in centerfield in the fourth.

Mene led the way during the first contest, going 4-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBI. Hotaling was 2-for-4, scoring three runs and driving in one. Flavin (2-for-4), Wilson (2-for-4), Brown (2-for-3) and Johnston (2-for-3) all enjoyed multi-hit games.

 

In the second contest, Union continued to roll, jumping out to a 3-1 lead in the first. Mene and freshman outfielder Nicholas Ranalli each drove in runs and the Dutchmen capitalized on a D'Youville error.

 

Ranalli, who almost hit for the cycle, doubled in the second inning and hit his first career home run in the third.

 

Union kept the foot on the gas throughout the game, scoring three or more runs in five of the seven innings. Three runs in the first followed with six in the second, three in the third, three in the sixth and four in the seven.

 

Ranalli led the way going 3-for-5 with three runs scored and a career-high five RBI. Junior catcher Justin Real went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Hotaling (2-for-3), Wilson (2-for-3), Henkel (2-for-3) and sophomore right fielder Anthony Cassese (2-for-4) each had multi-hit games.

 

Brown pitched four inning, striking out five and allowing zero earned runs. Sophomore Matthew Rogers and junior Colin McKelligan supplied some relief. Rogers whiffed two in two innings of work, while McKelligan also struck out two in the seventh.

 

The Dutchmen now focus on its four-game set against Liberty League foe Clarkson. Saturday's doubleheader begins at 2:00 p.m., while Sunday's begins at noon.