SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A five-run first inning proved costly as the Union College baseball team (7-9, 2-4 Liberty League) fell, 16-3, in the series finale to Skidmore College (15-2-1, 4-1 Liberty League) Sunday afternoon at Castle Baseball Diamond.

Off the bench, sophomore Anthony Ruzzo went 2-for-2 for the Dutchmen with a pair of RBIs while first-year Kyle Zaslaw was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

After a pair of close games on Saturday, the Thoroughbreds jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back. Skidmore plated 12 runs in the first three innings, putting the game out of reach early on.

The Dutchmen got on the board in the fifth inning. Senior Jack DiNanno doubled to left field to lead off the inning before Zaslaw stepped in as a pinch hitter. Zaslaw doubled to left center to bring DiNanno home. Ruzzo came off the bench later in the inning, driving an RBI-single into left field.

Skidmore tacked on three more runs in the seventh inning. In the top of the ninth, first-year Nick Hiltsley sent a double into left center. Two batters later, Ruzzo lined an RBI-double into left field for his second hit of the game.

Senior James Salemme falls to 0-1 on the season, facing six batters in 0.1 innings, striking out one, and allowing five runs, all earned, no hits, and four walks. In relief, junior Harry Azadian pitched four complete innings, striking out a game-high seven batters and allowing three runs on five hits. Ameer Hasan (4-0) pitched complete innings for Skidmore to earn the win, fanning five and surrendering two runs on five hits.

The Dutchmen look to snap a four-game skid when they travel to Middlebury College on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at Forbes Field.