GAME 1

GAME 2

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College baseball team split a doubleheader against the Rochester Institute of Technology on Saturday, winning 8-0 and falling 6-5 at Central Park. The Tigers move to 6-9-0 overall with a 2-4-0 mark in the Liberty League, while the Dutchmen sit at 8-5-0 and 4-2.

Recording two runs and an RBI each in game one, juniors Matt Barretto and Tyler Heck led the Dutchmen. Barretto and sophomore Vincent Esposito each went 2-for-3, with Esposito earning two RBIs. Sophomores David Peretti and Dan Minnes and senior Nicholas Ranalli each tallied a run and an RBI, while junior Dylan Katz-Wicks scored, as well.

Dane O'Neil started for Union, allowing only five hits and holding the Tigers without a run. The sophomore struck out seven and walked three to earn the win.

By the second inning, the Dutchmen had a 5-0 advantage. Esposito hit a double to center field in the bottom of the sixth, allowing Heck and Barretto to score to extend Union's lead to 8-0. Freshman Matt McGavick relieved O'Neil at the top of the seventh, allowing zero hits to hold off RIT.

In the second contest, the Dutchmen took an early lead with Heck scoring in the first inning after a single from Peretti. Barretto moved the score to 2-0 in the bottom of the third, advancing to home on an infield error.

The Tigers came charging back in the top of the fourth, tallying five runs to take a 5-2 lead. RIT's Jon Meyer hit a home run to put the visiting squad on the board. Tyler Romatar, Greg Schworm, C.J. Bolorin and Ronnie Canestro each scored, while Kreag Bradley and Walt Roman earned RBIs. Meyer went on to score again in the top of the fifth, with an RBI from Jaren Bell, setting the score at 6-2.

The Dutchmen seemed to begin a comeback in the bottom of the eighth inning, scoring three runs with two outs. John Moore reached first base on an infield error, and advanced to second to give Union a momentum swing. With a single from Heck, the junior moved to third. Next up at bat, Peretti doubled to center field to earn two RBIs and move the score to 6-4.

Esposito then singled to field, allowing Peretti  reach third base. With a single from Minnes through the right side, Peretti scored Union's final run. Esposito nearly tied the game, but was tagged out at home to end the inning.

Despite a battle in the final inning, the Tigers held the Dutchmen a five runs to end the game. Phil Kemp started for Union, allowing five hits and three earned runs. Freshman Dan Friedman relieved the junior in the fourth inning, allowing six runs and one earned run. Pitching the final inning, freshman Chris Pignatello held RIT without a hit in the top of the ninth.

The Dutchmen take on the Tigers in another doubleheader tomorrow, April 1^st, at Central Park at noon.