SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Skidmore College rallied twice in game one, then got a near-perfect pitching performance in game two to sweep a baseball doubleheader against Rochester on Sunday.
The Thoroughbreds won the opener, 6-5, in nine innings, then took the nitecap, 6-0. The doubleheader sweep tightens the Liberty League race considerably. Rochester is 17-3 in the league, 26-7 overall. Skidmore is 11-5 in the league, 22-8 overall. The Yellowjackets finish their league regular-season schedule at Clarkson next weekend. Skidmore plays Union next weekend, then locks horns with RPI in two weeks in what could be a down-to-the-wire finish.
Rochester built a 4-1 lead through five innings in game one. Matt Francis hit an RBI single in the fourth to score Steve Just (and tie the game at 1-1). Francis and Dominic Caruso executed a double steal and when the ball was thrown away, Francis scored for a 2-1 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, Blayne Fuke walked. Andy Cannon singled him to second. Alex Caghan bunted the runners up a base. Fuke took third on a wild pitch with Cannon moving to third. Another wild pitch brought Cannon home for the 4-1 lead.
Skidmore scored four runs in its half of the seventh to nudge in front, 5-4. Jon Menke was touched for three singles around a strikeout. Jake Mendell tripled to left, tying the score. Menke was replaced by Corey King. He uncorked a wild pitch, scoring Mendell and giving Skidmore it's second lead of the game (since it was 1-0 after three and a half). King walked Leejay Pollacchi, who promptly stole second. King got Brian Lowry on a popout, then walked Zach Rudman. He was replaced by Nick Cacciola. His wild pitch moved the runners up a base before Anthony Ferri grounded out.
Rochester scored an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh to tie it and force extra innings. Casey Storme singled, was bunted to second by Fuke, and took third on Cannon's flyout to right. Alex Caghan reached on an error (which scored Storme). When the ball was then thrown away, Caghan advanced to second. He eventually moved to third, but Nate Stein grounded out, ending the inning.
Skidmore's Spencer Marcus worked a 1-2-3 ninth to seal the victory. Marcus allowed five hits, five runs (two earned), walked two, and struck out three.
The Thoroughbreds seized control early in game two, scoring five times in the top of the first against Steve Guzski. Skidmore's Nick Laracuente was in complete control after that. He threw a no-hitter for six and two-thirds and allowed one baserunner in that time. Rob Barnard broke up the no-hitter with a full count single to left in the bottom of the seventh. Caghan grounded out to end the game.
