AUBURNDALE, F.L. – Union College baseball senior pitcher
Dane O'Neil pitched four scoreless innings to lead the Dutchmen to a 4-1 victory over Hamilton. However, Hamilton took game two 7-6 in dramatic walk off fashion on Sunday afternoon at Lake Myrtle Park.
The Dutchmen move to 2-1 in the early going with the split with the Continentals.
O'Neil picked up his first win of the season after allowing only one hit over four innings with a strike out. His only mistake on the day was plunking a Continental in the third inning. Fellow senior
Andrew Beaule pitched the final three innings and allowed only one run with three strikeouts.
The Dutchmen's early offense came off defensive mistakes by the Continentals. Freshman
Kent Curran was the first to cross the plate after doubling down the right field line. Curran scored from second after
Joe Bradlee hit a ground ball to the short stop who threw the ball wide of the first baseman. Bradlee scored later in the inning on a passed ball.
In the fifth inning
Michael Fitzsimmons turned a pinch hit opportunity into a run batted in as he singled past the second baseman to score senior
Sam Caruso. Later in the inning, freshman
Jake Fishman singled through the left side to score Fitzsimmons. The Continentals lone run came in the seventh inning when Kenny Collins singled past Curran at third base to score Brett Mele.
In game two, freshman pitcher
Devin Martin started his first collegiate game. After a rocky three run first inning (two runs came off errors), the rookie settled in allowing only two more runs (none earned) in his five innings of work. He also struck out four batters.
The Dutchmen responded in the top of the second inning with the help of two freshmen. Fishman scored the first run on an error forced by a Bradlee hit to the short stop. That was followed by freshman catcher
Brian Dolan singling past the second baseman that scored Fitzsimmons. Bradlee was the last to score on a fielder's choice.
Union tacked on two more runs in the third inning to take a 5-3 lead but Hamilton pulled to within one in the bottom part of the inning. The freshman duo of
Kent Curran and
Jake Fishman combined to increase the lead to two in the top of the sixth inning.
Hamilton would add one run on an error in the bottom of the sixth before winning in walk off style thanks to an Andrew Haser walk off single to left field.
Matt Yonta, who came into the game in relief of Martin, was credited with the loss while Tommy Moriarty earned the relief win.
The Dutchmen return to action tomorrow when they play a double header with the University of Chicago starting at 9 a.m.
