SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.-The Union College baseball team broke open a 4-4 tie with eight runs in the top of ninth to earn a split with Skidmore College in the second game of a Liberty League doubleheader, Friday at Castle Diamond. The Dutchmen go to 5-4 overall and 1-1 in the Liberty League, while the Thoroughbreds go to 4-6 overall and 1-1 in league play.
The first game proved to be a pitcher's duel, with the two teams combining for just seven hits. Daniel Dasgupta secured a walk-off win for Skidmore with an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh.
Jake Fishman struck out seven batters and allowed just three hits over six innings.
Bill Christopher took the loss on the mound for the Dutchmen.
Skidmore starting pitcher Kenny Ajello allowed no runs on two hits with four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Peter Delalio got the win, pitching 1 1/3 innings of no-hit relief.
In game two, Union pulled out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on back-to-back RBI doubles by
Eric Egan and
Jamie Faber.
Skidmore finally got on the board in the sixth inning, scoring two runs on a throwing error to tie the game at 2-2.
Faber restored the Dutchmen's lead in the top of the eighth, plating Egan and
Jake Vesling with a two-run double to make it 4-2.
Skidmore battled back in the bottom half of the inning, tying the game at 4-4 on a Eric Damphousse RBI single and a Steven Gilbert sacrifice fly, but Union responded in the top of the ninth, exploding for eight runs.
Vesling led off the inning with a single, later scoring on an error. Egan drove two more runs with his second double of the game and
Harrison Glatt put Union in front 7-2, drawing a bases-loaded walk.
The Dutchmen tallied another run on an error before
Anthony Amoroso capped the charge with a two-run single.
Faber closed the door in the ninth, earning his first win of the season. Union starting pitcher
Adam Ashenfarb struck out six batters and allowed no earned runs on four hits over six innings. Faber allowed two runs on four hits with three strikeouts over the final three innings, while going 2-for-4 with three RBI at the plate.
Christian Reenstierna suffered the loss for the Thoroughbreds.
Egan went 3-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored and Fishman finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two doubles.
Union closes out its series against Skidmore with a doubleheader at Castle Diamond on Saturday, March 26. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
