WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Union College baseball team got its time at the RussMatt Central Florida Classic started on Friday afternoon, dropping a 5-1 matchup to Hamilton College at Chain of Lakes Park.
 
Union (4-5) struggled at the plate to start their time on Spring Break, managing just two hits in the 191st all-time meeting between Union and the Continentals.
 
Hamilton (3-5) wasted no time taking a lead, needing just two batters and six pitches to plate the first run of the game thanks to a leadoff triple from Chester Boynton and a double by Michael Tallarida. The Continentals added another run to take a two-run edge after one frame.
 
Union manufactured a run in the top of the second to halve the deficit. First-year Evan Lagemann reached first on a passed ball with one out and made his way to third base on a balk and wild pitch. After a walk, first-year Seamus Condon delivered a two-out base hit to score Lagemann.
 
Junior Jacob Skarlis shook off a difficult start to toss five scoreless innings and keep his team in the game, finishing his outing after six frames and five strikeouts. However, the Union bats did not record a hit over the span of seven innings, which allowed Hamilton to create a larger margin with a three-run seventh inning.
 
Union started the ninth inning with a mini-rally after a hit batter and a single by senior Andrew Keaveney, but a double play and fly out ended the threat and the game.
 
Skarlis (1-1) took the loss, allowing two runs on seven hits in six innings, while first-year Lucas Miller ended the afternoon with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief for Union. Aden Soroca (2-1) struck out 10 and allowed one hit and one run in six innings to earn the win for Hamilton, and Ethan Righter tossed three scoreless innings to pick up the save.
 
Union will return to action tomorrow with a morning matchup against the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse beginning at 10:15 a.m. from Northeast Regional Park in Davenport.