AMSTERDAM, N.Y – Two late inning rallies fell short as the Union College baseball team (7-8, 2-3 Liberty League) was swept by Skidmore College (14-2-1, 3-1 Liberty League) in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Shuttleworth Park. Union fell 7-6 in game one and 4-2 in game two. 

Junior Jono Santos homered twice on the day, once in each game, going a combined 3-for-7 at the plate with three RBIs and two runs scored.

Game 1: Skidmore 7, Union 6

First-year Sam Strazza led the way at the plate for the Dutchmen, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, including a two-run blast in the fourth. Santos also went 2-for-4 in the opening game, with a two-run homerun in the eighth inning.

Union opened the scoring in the first inning after sophomore Thomas Parisi walked then stole second. An RBI-single from sophomore Kobe Mentzer gave Union a 1-0 lead.

Skidmore took a 3-1 lead in the top of the second inning, capitalizing on an error, and a two-run RBI single by Anthony Mollica.

Strazza, the reigning Liberty League Rookie of the Week, crushed a homerun to center field in the fourth inning to cut the lead to one.

Three singles in a row to lead off the fifth inning followed by a fielder's choice extended Skidmore's lead, 5-2.

The Dutchmen added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth stanza. With bases loaded, Mentzer drew a walk to bring in a run. One batter later, Strazza sent a single into right field to bring Parisi home.

Skidmore added two more runs in the top of the eighth inning off a double from Jackson Hornung.

Union came within one run once again in the eighth frame. Strazza reached first on a fielding error before Santos sent a rocket over the left field fence for Union's second homerun of the game.

The Dutchmen attempted a final rally in the ninth, but fell short.

Senior Chris Murdock (1-1) pitched four complete innings in the start, striking out two, and surrendering five runs, four earned, on seven hits. Sophomore Bryce Fournier pitched five innings of relief, fanning six, with two runs on four hits, and four walks. Jack Clark (4-0) earns the win for Skidmore with 6.2 innings of work, striking out six, and allowing four runs on four hits. Christian Giresi registered the save in 1.2 innings.
 
Game Two: Skidmore 4, Union 2

Sophomore Ryan Cowles went 1-for-2 with an RBI while senior Justin Cabanas was 1-for-3 with a run scored.

After four scoreless innings of baseball, it was the visitors that broke the stalemate. An RBI-single by Trey Bourque gave Skidmore a 1-0 lead. One batter later, Max Mello sent a three-run homerun over the center field fence.

After back-to-back singles in the top of the fifth, Cowles sent a double down the left field line to get the Dutchmen on the board. Parisi walked to load the bases with two outs, but Union could not convert.

Santos hit his second homerun of the day in the bottom of the sixth inning, cutting the lead to two.

Union loaded the bases again in the seventh inning, but Skidmore's defense closed the door for the sweep.

First-year Chris Suter (2-1) is tagged with the loss, striking out two, and surrendering four runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings of work. Sophomore Kyle Patlove pitched 1.1 innings of scoreless relief and only surrendered two hits. Justin Posnik (2-1) pitched a complete game for Skidmore, fanning four, and allowing two runs on six hits.

Union will take on Skidmore in the series finale tomorrow at 10 a.m. at Castle Diamond.