SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – A seven-run eighth inning propelled the Union College baseball team to an 18-11 win over Russell Sage College in a rain-soaked affair on Tuesday afternoon at Central Park "A" Diamond.

Six Union players recorded a multi-hit game in the win and the Garnet Chargers hit six doubles as a team. Sophomore Caleb Miller was a triple short of the cycle with three hits, five RBIs, and two runs scored.

In a game that saw four lead changes and a combined 13 pitches, it was the visiting Gators that opened the scoring with six runs in the first two innings. After senior Sebastian Pike doubled in the bottom of the second, Miller stepped up and sent a homerun over the left field wall to make it a four-run game. One inning later, senior Kobe Mentzer hit a sac fly to center and sophomore Liam McIlroy scored from third.

Union took the first lead of the game in the fifth inning. With runners on first and second, Mentzer singled into left field to load the bases, but a fielding error allowed senior Ryan Cowles to cross home safely. Sophomore Andrew Keaveney walked to load the bases and Miller hit a bases-clearing double to centerfield to give Union a 7-6 advantage.

The lead did not last long as the Gators battled back in the sixth to take a 9-7 lead. Back-to-back singles followed by a fielder's choice by McIlroy put runners on the corners in the bottom of the stanza. Senior Thomas Parisi hit Union's second sac fly of the game to make it a one-run game.

Sage reached double-digits in the seventh on an RBI single to push their lead to two runs. Union regained the lead with three runs in the seventh courtesy of back-to-back doubles by juniors Kyle Zaslaw and Sam Strazza.

The Union offense exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. With bases loaded, Zaslaw hit his second double of the day to clear the bases to give Union a four-run lead. Strazza hit an RBI single into left field and Cowles followed up with a homerun over the scoreboard in left center. After hitting a double, McIlroy made it to third on a wild pitch and capitalized on an error to race home for Union's final run of the afternoon.

The Gators tacked on one run in the ninth, but two strikeouts by junior Alex Erickson and a fly out gave Union their 12th win of the season.

First-year Garrick Godin started for the Garnet Chargers and allowed four runs, three earned, on two hits and a strikeout. Sophomore Jack Klein pitched 3.2 innings of relief with two hits, three runs, and two strikeouts. Senior Kyle Patlove earned his first win of the season with a scoreless and hitless eighth inning.

Union returns to Liberty League action on Friday with a single game against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Central Park "A" Diamond.