SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Rochester split a Liberty League baseballl doubleheader at Skidmore College on Saturday, winning the opener, 5-2, before Skidmore prevailed in game two, 7-2.

The split gives Rochester a 17-1 Liberty League record with six games left in the conference season (26-5 overall). Rochester plays at Skidmore on Sunday, then plays four at Clarkson next weekend.

In game one, Dan Ludwig and Nick Cacciola combined on a five hitter for the victory. In six and a third, Ludwig gave up five hits, two runs (one unearned), walked one, and struck out six. Cacciola set down the only two men he faced to get his fourth save. He came on in the bottomm of the seventh. Anthony Ferri singled. Matt Pisani struck out, but Mike Jaffee walked. Ludwig left. Cacciola retired Adam Cornachione on a flyout to right with the runners holding. He ended the game getting Rob Rubenstein on an infield grounder.

Rochester got two in the first - a walk to Andy Cannon, followed by a stolen bas. Alex Caghan doubled Cannon home, promptly stole third, and scored on Nate Stein's sac fly.

In the third, Blayne Fuke singled, was bunted to second by Cannon, took third on a groundout, and scored on a passed ball. Skidmore got runs in the first (a home run by Brian Lowry) and the third (unearned). The Yellowjackets added two more in the fifth on a two-run single by Matt Francis.

Rochester couldn't get the clutch hit it needed in game two. Ferri's home run in the fourth put the Thoroughbreds up, 1-0. Rob Barnard singled home a run in the fifth and Jon Menke hit a sac fly to make it 2-1. An RBI single by Spencer Marcus and a run-scoring double by Leejay Pollacchi put the hosts back in front, 3-2, through five.

In the Rochester seventh, Steve Just walked, Francis singled, and Dominic Caruso bunted them into scoring position. Reliever Jordan Keysor (who came on to start the inning) retired Menke on an infield pop and struck out Casey Storme.

Skidmore put it out of reach in the seventh with four runs vs. Ned Chanatry, three earned. The key blow was a two-run single by Cornachione that scored Lowry and Ferri to complete the scoring.

Rochester had 12 hits, had three men hit by a pitch, and drew three walks. The Yellowjackets stranded 15 on the base paths, nine in scoring position.

Nate Kowal got his first loss of the season in game two. In six innings, he was touched for nine hits, three runs (all earned), walked one, and struck out two. Chanatry pitched two innings, allowing four hits, four runs (three earned), and walked one. He did not strike out anyone.