ROCHESTER, N.Y.—Sophomore outfielder
Joe Ganim went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI and a run scored and junior pitcher
Nick Williams was perfect in three innings of relief, as the Union College baseball team held on for a 5-3 win against Clarkson in the opening game of the 2017 Liberty League Tournament, Thursday morning on the campus of RIT.
The Dutchmen (21-13) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Sophomore
Anthony Amoroso pulled a double down the right-field line and advanced to third on a groundout. Senior captain
Kent Curran opened the scoring, delivering a two-out RBI single through the right side, and
Sean Cullen followed with a double to right. Ganim plated Curran in the next at-bat with an infield single.
Clarkson (16-17) cut the deficit in half in the top of the third when Dom Pirro produced an RBI single, but Union responded with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Ganim registered his second RBI of the day with a double to left field, scoring Curran, and advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on
Colin Kelly's RBI single.
The Golden Knights battled back within one with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. An errant throw on a pickoff attempt allowed Brett Pearson to score in the fifth, and Chris Miller ripped an RBI double down the left-field line in the sixth to make it 4-3.
Union added a run in the top of the eighth, as
Greg Dougherty came home on a throwing error, and that was all it needed. Williams proved to be unhittable over the final three innings, striking out five and walking none for his third save. First-year
Josh Garber earned the win, allowing one run on two hits over one and one-third innings. Junior
Andy Labeck got the no-decision, scattering two runs (one earned) on six hits and three walks, while striking out five in four and two-thirds innings.
Clarkson starter Andrew Smith was tagged with the loss after allowing four runs on 10 hits over six innings.
Amoroso (2-3) and Vesling (1-4), each extended their respective on-base streaks to 19 games, while Curran (2-3) ran his hitting streak to 11 games.
The Dutchmen will take on the winner of Thursday's second game between host RIT and Vassar at 10 a.m. Friday, May 12.