Pitchers David Zuhlsdorf and Boden Driscoll each turned in strong starts for the Saints on the hill, while John Gannon and Willie Landman helped pace the offensive effort, as the St. Lawrence University baseball team won game one of their doubleheader at RIT 4-0, and fell to a walk-off hit in game two for the split in Rochester, N.Y.

The Saints are 5-11 and 1-4 in conference play with the split, getting their first Liberty League victory of the year and snapping a three-game losing streak with the win in game one. The Tigers end the day at 13-5 and 2-3 in the Liberty League.

The Canton native, Zuhlsdorf was handed the ball for game one and didn't give it up for 7.2 innings of work. The southpaw gave up just three hits, struck out seven batters, and gave up no runs. Brendan Karadenes earned the save in game one, giving up no hits in 1.1 innings of work. Fellow left-handed hurler Boden Driscoll had a strong outing in game two, pitching five innings, striking out two batters, and giving up no runs..

Gannon picked up four hits throughout the twin bill, scoring two runs and providing an RBI along the way. Landman, who had three hits on the day was particularly effective in game two with three RBI. Jack Finnegan had three hits across the two games and, with a triple and a double, was the only Saint to record two extra base hits, while Mike Siano had a pair of base knocks in game one.

Game one: St. Lawrence 4, RIT 0

After two scoreless innings to start the game, the Saints broke the scoring in the third inning when Timothy Connor worked a walk with the bases loaded to bring home a run following Siano and Finnegan singles along with a John Donnellan walk. Tigers' pitcher John Arnold worked out of the bind, striking out two Saints with the bases loaded, leaving the Saints with two in scoring position and the score at 1-0.
 
The Tigers' hope for a rally in the next half-inning was stifled when Donnellan helped close out a scoreless third inning for the Saints' defense by throwing out Randy Dodig's attempt to steal third.
 
The Saints scored again at the top of the sixth with a bunt single from Siano followed by an error from relief pitcher Ryan Merkov that brought Gannon home from third. Another RIT error brought pinch-runner Owen McClintock home, extending the Scarlet and Brown lead to 3-0.
 
Zuhlsdorf started on the mound against the Tigers, dealing for 7.2 innings, keeping RIT scoreless while allowing only three hits and striking out seven. The Saints brought in Karadenes who quickly secured the final out of the eighth inning, maintaining the score.
 
The Saints scored again at the top of the ninth, providing extra cushion entering the final half-inning of the game. Karadenes stayed on the mound for the Saints and closed out the game, as they took the first of the Liberty League series against the Tigers.

Game two: St. Lawrence 6, RIT 7

The Scarlet and Brown got on the board immediately in the first inning of this one after Gannon doubled, and then a throwing error on Brett Federico's ground ball gave the Saints a 1-0 lead. Federico proceeded to steal both second and third base, which allowed Landman to drive him in with a base hit to right. 

The Saints added another run in the third after a Finnegan triple followed by a walk and a Gannon single. Landman delivered in his next at bat in the fifth with a double down the right field line, scoring both runners on base to give St. Lawrence their fourth and fifth runs. 

Meanwhile, Boden Driscoll looked sharp in his outing, following in the footsteps of Zuhlsdorf in game one. The New Hampshire native went five scoreless innings, surrendering five hits, one walk, and whiffing two batters. 

Sean Desjardins had a run-scoring double in the top of the sixth to make the game 6-0, but the Tigers finally got on the board with a solo home run in the bottom of the frame after the Saints pitching staff tossed 14 scoreless innings to begin the series. 

The Saints ran into some trouble in the bottom of the seventh with RIT getting a single, a hit by pitch, and another single to drive in their first run of the inning. The Tigers then got a three-run home run to make the game 6-5 with two innings left to play.

After neither team could score in the next few frames, the Tigers headed into the bottom of the ninth down 6-5. Immediately, RIT got a double and a single to score the game-tying run and then loaded the bases, eventually walking it off with a single, scoring their seventh unanswered run to split the first two of the series. 

Next up:

The Saints will play in their series finale against the Tigers tomorrow, March 29, at noon before finally returning home for their first games at Tom Fay Field next weekend.