AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The Union College baseball team opened the season with a split against Bowdoin College, winning game one 1-0 before falling 7-2 in the game two, Sunday afternoon.

Sophomore Dan Sheeran led Union at the plate, going 2-for-4 in game two with a triple and a run scored. The first-year catching tandem of Cooper Ames and Caleb Miller recorded their first collegiate hits, a single and a homerun, respectively, while classmate JT Psirogianes also registered his first career hit.  

Game One: Union 1, Bowdoin 0

Behind a complete seven-inning effort on the mound by sophomore Chris Suter, Union took a 1-0 victory in the pitching duel to open the season. Juniors Ryan Cowles and Kobe Mentzer each went 1-for-3 at the plate while Ames went 1-for 2.

The lone run of the game came in the third period. With two outs on the board, Cowles singled to right field. Ames drew a walk to put runner on first and second. Mentzer dropped a single in left field to bring Cowles home for the first run of the season.

Defensively, the infield turned three double plays to keep the game scoreless.

Suter got the opening day nod, pitching a complete seven-inning game for his first career shutout, allowing five hits and two walks, while striking out four.
 
Game Two: Bowdoin 7, Union 2

Four Union batters registered a hit in game two, with Sheeran leading the way with a 2-for-4 game. Miller went 1-for-3 with a homerun.

Union jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Sheeran launched his first career triple in the bottom of the frame. Mentzer grounded out to second, but Sheeran capitalized and crossed home.
Bowdoin was quick to respond, plating two in the top of the second inning to give Bowdoin a 2-1 lead.

The Polar Bears broke the game open in the top of the fifth, scoring five runs. After striking out the leadoff hitter, five consecutive batters registered a hit for Bowdoin. Hitting leadoff going into the bottom of the fifth, Miller launched a homerun over the fence for Union's second run of the game.

Sophomore Aidan McGee took the loss in game two, pitching 4.1 innings, striking out four, while allowing five runs, three earned, on five hits, and two walks. Junior Kyle Patlove struck out one in a third of an inning, while allowing two runs on three hits. Sophomore Alex Erickson struck out one and only allowed one hit in 1.1 innings and first-year Andrew Keaveney made his collegiate debut with a scoreless inning of work.

Union is back in action tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. with a game against SUNY Old Westbury before facing off with Wisconsin-Eau Claire at 1:30 p.m. in Auburndale, Fla. Both games will be played at Lake Myrtle Park #5.