Michael Hutchins was dealing on the hill pitching 8.1 innings, while John Gannon and Matt Davis each drove in two runs as the St. Lawrence University baseball team took game one of their weekend series against Clarkson 5-3 at Jack Phillips Stadium in Potsdam on Friday afternoon.

The Saints improved to 11-17 on the year and 5-10 in Liberty League play, while the Knights fell to 9-17 and 2-12 in league play.

Both teams threatened early in the contest but left six runners on base combined through the first three innings.

It wasn't until an error in the fourth by the Knights that would lead to the first run of the game. Gannon started the inning reaching on an error and went to second on the play. Sean Desjardins moved Gannon over with a single, and with two outs, John Donnellan delivered a single over the shortstop's head to take the game's first run.

Clarkson tied the game in the bottom half of the inning when Kent Wilson hit a solo homer to right field.

St. Lawrence bounced right back in the fifth regaining the lead. A Timothy Connor single, an error by Clarkson, and a wild pitch left runners on second and third with two outs. First-year infielder Davis clutched up for the Saints smacking a single to left field to take a 3-1 lead.

Hutchins was cruising on the mound sitting down the Knights' batters in order in the fifth and sixth innings.

The 3-1 record lasted until the seventh when the Scarlet and Brown scored their fourth run. With Hofacker out of the game, Gannon took advantage of the Clarkson bullpen hitting a fastball that nearly dented Cheel Arena out in left-center to make it a 4-1 game.

Gannon was not done as he took advantage of a Connor walk and stolen base by smoking double to left center to make it 5-1.

Hutchins pitched into the ninth inning but after a single that scored two runners, the Saints brought Michael Watson out of the pen. The senior hurler toed the slab and delivered a flyout and an emphatic strikeout to earn the save and slam the door on Clarkson.

Hutchins improved to 2-2 on the year, while Watson earned his third save of the season.

The two teams will head to Tom Fay Field tomorrow for games two and three of the weekend series starting at noon. Before the contest, the St. Lawrence University baseball program will honor the members of the Class of 2024 for senior day.