SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – In the first meeting of the two programs since 1932, the Union College baseball team and The City College of New York split a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at Central Park "A" Diamond. Union won game one 6-2, but dropped a 4-3 decision in the second game.

Union turned four double plays in the doubleheader including three in the first game. Senior Ryan Cowles, sophomore Liam McIlroy, and junior Kyle Zaslaw all registered homeruns on the afternoon.

Game One: Union 6, CCNY 2
The Beavers opened the game with a leadoff single, but a double play in the next at-bat followed by a groundout to second kept the game scoreless. The Garnet Chargers opened the bottom half of the frame with three consecutive walks before sophomore Andrew Keaveney lined a single up the middle to drive two runs home.

Zaslaw drew a leadoff walk to start the second inning, Cowles hit his first homerun of the season to put the home team up by four. Union loaded the bases again courtesy of a walk by sophomore Liam McIlroy and back-to-back singles by Keaveney and senior Kobe Mentzer. Sophomore Cooper Ames made it to first on a fielder's choice which gave McIlroy time to cross home. The visitors scored their first run in the top of the third.

The Beavers scored their final run in the top of the fifth inning. After loading the bases, Eric Rank reached first on a fielding error which allowed a runner to cross home. Union tacked on their final run in the bottom of the frame. With bases loaded, Zaslaw lined out to third, but the third baseman threw to first in an attempt to get the double play. Ames took advantage of the throw and raced home from third for the score.

Sophomore Alex Oppenheimer earned his second win of the season this afternoon, allowing one run on four hits and one strikeout in four innings of work. Junior Aidan McGee pitched three complete innings and earned the save with one run, unearned, on two hits and two strikeouts.

Game Two: Union 3, CCNY 4
Five players recorded multi-hit games in the loss. McIlroy went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.  

After two scoreless innings to start the game, CCNY got on the board first. Back-to-back singles put runners on the corner and Ethan Lopez hit an RBI single to left center for the first run of the game. Union tied the game at one in the bottom of the fourth when Zaslaw hit his first collegiate homerun over the left field wall.

The Beavers tacked on three runs in the top of the fifth. McIlroy responded with a leadoff homerun in the bottom of the frame for his third homerun of the season. Union added one more run in the bottom of the seventh, but the rally fell short.

Sophomore Jack Collins is tagged with the loss after surrendering four runs, three earned, on seven hits, and three strikeouts in four innings of work. Eric Rank pitched a complete seven inning game for the Beavers and allowed three runs on 11 hits with two strikeouts.

Union is back in action on Wednesday with a non-conference tilt against St. John Fisher. First pitch is scheduled for 2:15pm at Central Park "A" Diamond.