AMSTERDAM, N.Y. – Coming off a doubleheader sweep to end the Florida spring break trip, the Union College baseball team continued their winning ways with a sweep of Clarkson University in the home opener Saturday afternoon at Shuttleworth Park. Union took game one by a score of 9-8 and game two 5-2.

GAME 1: Union 9, Clarkson 8

Sophomore Kobe Mentzer continued his excellent start to the season with a 3-for-4 day at the plate with three RBIs, a run scored, and a double. First-year Sam Strazza was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.

The Dutchmen opened the scoring in the first inning. After junior Jack Milone reached first on a wild pitch, Mentzer sent an RBI-double into right field to give the Dutchmen a 1-0 lead.

Clarkson took a 2-1 lead in the third inning and tacked on a third run in the fifth.

Union tied the game in the fifth inning. Sophomore Thomas Parisi made it to first on a fielding error. Following a fly out to right field, three Dutchmen batters singled in a row to knot the game at three.

After both teams added a run in the sixth, the Dutchmen broke the game open with a five-run seventh stanza. With bases loaded, Union added a run off a balk. Parisi reached on a dropped fly ball and advanced to second to bring home a run and put runners at second and third. A single by Mentzer down the right field line plated two more runs to give the Dutchmen a 9-4 lead.

The Golden Knights came within a run, scoring four runs in the top of the ninth. With the game tying run at second base, junior Jason Goldblum entered the game to get the final out and the save.

Senior Chris Murdock pitched five complete innings, striking out seven, and allowing three runs on six hits. First-year Aidan McGee earned the win for Union, pitching 3.2 innings of relief, striking out three, and surrendering five runs on five hits. Goldblum picked up his third save of the season. Kyle Locklear (0-2) took the loss for the Golden Knights, striking out 13 while giving up seven hits and three runs, only two earned.
 
GAME 2: Union 5, Clarkson 2

Junior Jack Davis was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and a run scored while classmate Jono Santos also went 2-for-3 with a homerun.

Union once again opened the scoring in the first stanza. Mentzer sent a single up the middle and scored when Strazza doubled one batter later.

Clarkson took a 2-1 lead in the second. A bases-loaded single brought two runs in, both unearned.

Union took the lead in the bottom half of the frame. Senior Justin Cabanas hit a leadoff single followed up by a double by sophomore Sebastian Pike. Davis singled to bring home two more runs and give Union a 3-2 lead. Santos hit a solo homerun into right field in the third inning, his second of the season.

Union's final run came in the sixth inning. Davis dropped a single into center field and advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt. Parisi singled in the next at bat to score Davis.

First-year Chris Suter (2-0) made his second career start, pitching a complete seven-inning game for the win. Suter struck out three and surrendered two unearned runs on six hits. Griffin Tubbs (1-1) pitched a complete game for the Golden Knights, striking out one, and allowing five runs, four earned, on ten hits.

Union looks to complete the season sweep of Clarkson tomorrow at Shuttleworth Park. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.