SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union baseball team extended their winning streak to eight games as the Dutchmen were able to trump St. Lawrence in wins of 6-3 and 5-4 at Central Park Tuesday afternoon.

Union is now 12-4 overall and 9-1 in Liberty League play while St. Lawrence falls to 10-6 and 5-3 in conference play. The Dutchmen is off to their best start since 1987 when Union went 15-4 and finished 16-6.

In game one, Michael Dell'Olio and Phil Kemp dueled on the mound for their respective squads. The first inning saw runs for both dugouts. Bryan Palermo led off the game with a single through the left side. After Kemp retired the next two batters on fly outs, Khifer O'Connor was able to draw a two-out walk. The Saints continued the inning as Jeff Kott struck a single to score Palermo for the game's first trun. Kemp battled back as he was able to strike out Kevin Prindle to end the inning.

Dell'Olio started the game shaky as the Liberty League Performer of the Week, Vincent Esposito stroked a single to center field to lead off the bottom of the first. Dylan Katz-Wicks followed the at-bat with a single through the right side. Dell'Olio then seemed to lose his command as he hit Tyler Heck with a pitch and followed up with two wild pitches, which scored three runs in the inning. After a walk surrendered to David Peretti, Dell'Olio then struck out two batters and forced a line out to retire the side.

The Dutchmen were able to tack on another run in the third inning, as Heck was able to get on base for the second time in the game on a hit-by-pitch. Dell'Olio was trying to keep Heck close to the bag put a pick-off attempt strayed away from Kott as Heck advanced to second on the error. After getting the next outs, Dell'Olio nearly escaped the inning but Jeff Grasso was able to send Heck home on a RBI single up the middle to make it 4-1 Dutchmen.

Kemp settled in for Union as he allowed just two hits in the following three innings. Esposito continued to hit well as an RBI double into the gap was able to score Barretto from second to increase Union's lead to four.  The two-time Liberty League Performer of the Week has registered at least six hits in the last eight games for the Dutchmen.

The Saints would battle in the top of the fifth as Kemp conceded two walks and a single to load the bases for St. Lawrence with two outs. Kemp would walk Kevin Prindle to cut the Saints' deficit to three. Chris Pignatello would come into for relief for the starter as he went 4 2/3 innings in the game with a pair of strikeouts. However, Paul Piatelli would draw another walk to score the Saints' third run. However, Pignatello came back and struck out Zane Fish to end the threat.

Union would get a run back in the bottom half of the fifth inning as a Sam Caruso single scored Jamie Faber to give Union a three run lead.

Seth Roberts came into the game for the save, as he was able to retire the side in order to secure the game one win for the Dutchmen.

Game two featured Andrew Weitzel and Andrew Beaule on the mound. Both pitchers silenced the bats in the first three innings. However, in the bottom of the fourth, the Dutchmen were able to break the tie.

After Weitzel tallying the first two outs with a runner on first, the Dutchmen were able to string together some timely inning. Anders Goetz was able to draw a two walk to put runners on first and second.

Esposito broke the deadlock, as an RBI single up the middle was able to score Caruso to give Union the lead. Weitzel left the game and was relieved by Joe Riley. However, a Katz-Wicks walk followed by a two RBI single by Heck gave Union a three-run lead leaving the bottom of the fourth.  

Beaule continued to pitch well as he did not allow a hit through three innings entering the sixth. The Saints bats started to produce again as Carter Franz and O'Connor strung together back-to-back singles. Brian McGovney was then able to strike a one-out home run off the foul pole in left field to level the score.

St. Lawrence was seeking the lead in the top of the seventh as Quinn Rhoda allowed the go-ahead run to reach first on a walk. After a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch strikeout, Rhoda was able to induce a fly ball to end the rally.

The Dutchmen were seeking to end the game in the bottom of the seventh as Union loaded the bases with just one out. However, Joe Riley was able to draw a double play groundball from Jeff Grasso to escape the jam and force extra innings.  

Franz was able to give the Saints their first lead of the day, as he was able to hit a home run off Matt Yonta to make it 4-3 St. Lawrence in the top of the tenth.

In the bottom half of the inning, the Dutchmen were able to rally. A leadoff single by Jamie Faber put on the game-tying run. Jesse Galina was able to lay down the sacrifice bunt to move Faber into scoring position. Caruso followed the at-bat with a double into the alley that scored in Faber. After a groundout, Goetz was able to stroke a two-out RBI single into right field to give Union the win in 10 innings.

The Dutchmen will take the road tomorrow, April 10, as they will battle with Utica College for a nine-inning contest beginning at 3:30 p.m.