SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Skidmore College baseball team scored late in game two, earning a doubleheader split against Vassar, in Liberty League action at Castle Diamond on a cold and snowy Sunday afternoon. Skidmore won game two 3-1 after dropping an 8-4 decision in game one.
With the game two win, Skidmore (10-11, 5-7 Liberty League) avoids the four-game sweep to remain in the middle of the league standings. Vassar (9-7, 6-2) remains in first place in the league standings.
Game two was a pitcher's duel with tense moments throughout. Spencer Meyer pitched brilliantly, allowing one earned over 6.2 innings, striking out a pair of batters to keep Skidmore in the game. After a scoreless four innings of play, Vassar got to Meyer with a two-out RBI single up the middle. In the bottom of the sixth, Skidmore would strike back. Jake Hardy began the inning with a leadoff double, then Klier walked as Vassar starter Mitchell Mullock got pulled. The next batter, Justin LaRose, hit a one-out sac fly to center field to tie the game at one.
In the seventh, Vassar would threaten, but Andrew Aikins would come in relief of Meyer, forcing the groundout to end the inning. In the bottom of the inning, Andrew Knight would give Skidmore the lead with a two-out double to right field, scoring Fronte from second base. Vassar would again threaten in the eighth, but with runners on first and second with two outs, Aikins struck out Jason Salerno to end the threat. The Thoroughbreds would add an insurance run in a big way in the eighth, as leadoff hitter Patrick Geiger launched a 1-0 pitch over the left field wall for his first home run of the season. Aikins would once again pitch out of trouble in the ninth to clinch the win. Aikins (2-0) would pitch 2.1 scoreless innings for the win, as he increased his streak of not allowing an earned run to 14 innings. Skidmore would score its three runs on six hits, with Hardy leading the way with a 2-for-4 performance. LaRose, Knight, Geiger, and Will Potter would also tally hits. Matt Hernandez, Evan Trausch, and Bryan Rubin would each go 2-for-4 to lead Vassar. Patrick Fitzgerald (0-2) took the loss, allowing the go-ahead run in the seventh inning. Game one saw Vassar take a 3-0 lead over the first two innings, before Skidmore clawed back with a run in the second and two in the fourth. Vassar would answer with a three-run fifth, with Skidmore and Vassar scoring a run a piece in the fifth and sixth innings. The Thoroughbreds tallied 10 hits in game one. Ryan Strickland had a strong performance, going 3-for-4, driving in a pair of RBIs and scoring a run. Potter and Hardy would go 2-for-4, with Potter driving in a run. Jacob Berish (3-2) took the loss, striking out two in 2.1 innings, allowing four runs. Jonathan Kaiser pitched 2.2 innings, allowing a pair of earned runs. Sam Beck and Christian Reenstierna would pitch scoreless innings. Eight different Vassar players recorded a hit in the contest. John Madsen (2-0) would earn the victory in relief. Skidmore will next host Castleton in a single game on Thursday at 4 p.m.
