Chris Watson drove in four runs on the day to lead the Saints offense and
Jack Sylvia was dominant in a game two win as the St. Lawrence University baseball team battled to a split with Ithaca College in a Saturday twin bill at Tom Fay Field.
St. Lawrence went to 11-5 on the season and 3-2 in the Liberty League, while the Bombers' record went to 12-5 and 2-2 in conference action.
In game one, C. Watson drove in his first two runs of the day in an attempted late comeback, then in the second contest the second baseman drove in the first two runs in a six-run second inning for the Saints.
Nicholas Butler put the finishing touches on said inning with a tape measure three-run home run to balloon the lead to 6-0 early.
Sylvia saw his record go to 2-2 with a win in game two as the junior pitcher pitched into the seventh giving up six hits, two runs, and striking out four.
"We were able to split with a tough team today," said head coach
Kenny Collins "It was good to see our guys respond to getting shut down in game one of the day. We need to clean up some details and come out with some more focus tomorrow."
Game 1: St. Lawrence 4, Ithaca 7
The Saints' bats struggled to barrel up the ball in game one getting just one hit in the first eight innings. Ithaca's Kyle Lambert was dealing on the bump to the tune of seven innings pitched, one hit, and two walks. Ethan Buckley followed him up with an inning of no-hit ball striking out the eighth inning.
While St. Lawrence struggled to get a runner around to score, the Bombers slowly built up a significant lead. A solo home run opened the scoring in the 3rd, then a pair of two-RBI singles in the 5th and 6th brought the game to 6-0. Two more runs in the next two innings gave Ithaca a 7-0 lead going into the bottom of the ninth.
After Buckley struck out the side in the inning prior, the Bombers brought in Kowalczyk in an attempt to close the game in the ninth. Things started to churn for the Saints, who put runners on second and third as Butler, and
Caleb Clark found first before advancing around the paths.
Jimmy Liberatore grounded out to third which scored Butler from third, but left the Scarlet and Brown with two outs.
Cristian Forgione singled in the next at-bat to make it a 7-2 game.
A pinch-hit single from
Sean Desjardins put two runners back on the bags for the Saints before
Brian Comerford was walked to load them. C. Watson capitalized on the crowded bases scorching a double to left field to bring the score to 7-4 with the tying runner coming to the plate. Ithaca had seen enough as they brought Budzak in from the bullpen with a save opportunity. The pitcher would strike out the next batter to close game one.
Andrew Matthews started on the hill for the Saints and pitched six innings giving up eight hits, five runs, and struck out four.
Brett Parker came on in relief of Matthews pitching the final three innings and gave up three hits, two runs, and struck out two.
Game 2: St. Lawrence 6, Ithaca 2
Game two got off to a much better start for the Saints, who started the game with a single from C. Watson, who advanced to scoring position before Ithaca was able to shut down the threat.
Sylvia cruised through the first two innings in order setting up a crooked half-inning in the bottom of the second.
Jake Delaney hit a one-out single to start the offense and was followed by a single from Forgione right behind him. Once again, the Scarlet and Brown offense was forced to produce with two outs and Desjardins kept the half-inning alive with a walk to load the bags.
C. Watson, who delivered a two-out bases loaded hit in game one, did the same with a long single to right field which scored Forgione and Delaney. Next up was Clark, who kept the turnstiles going with an RBI single through the right side to make it a 3-0 game. One more crack of the bat from Butler capped the inning as the senior hit a three-run four-bagger to balloon the Saints' lead to 6-0.
The game remained scoreless until the top of the fifth inning when the Bombers got a single run back to break up the shutout. A trio of balls with eyes from Ithaca led to a bases-loaded jam in a hurry for Syliva, who was facing his first adversity of the game. The Bombers' leadoff hitter capitalized on the opportunity with a sacrifice fly to left field to get Ithaca on the board. Sylvia slammed the door shut forcing a fly-out from the next batter to minimize the damage.
The game cruised along once again without much threat until the top of the seventh for Ithaca in their final at-bat. Sylvia came out to try and complete his shutout, but a leadoff single forced a change for St. Lawrence, who brought in
Michael Hutchins from the bullpen.
Hutchins struck out his first batter, but hit the next to put runners on first and second with one out. The first-year forced a pop-up for the second out of the inning next, but a wild pitch and a walk loaded the bases. Hutchins once again hit a batter which brought in a run and put the game-tying runner in the batter's box. The first-year didn't blink at the jam as he struck out the next batter to close out the win.
Sylvia finished with six innings pitched in the win and gave up six hits, two runs, and struck out four. Hutchins, who came in for the seventh, pitched one inning, giving up no hits, struck out two, but also hit two batters.
Next Up:
The two Liberty League foes will line up once again at Tom Fay Field with the series on the line tomorrow. The third game of the weekend will start tomorrow afternoon at noon.
Â
