Poughkeepsie, NY – With a 10-run outburst in the final two innings, the Clarkson University Baseball team was able to earn a sweep over Liberty League conference foe Vassar College, winning the first game 11-5 and the second contest 13-11 Friday afternoon.
The victories give Clarkson a 16-9 overall record and a 7-1 mark in the Liberty League, as the Golden Knights held on to first place and clinched one of the four spots in the conference playoffs. Vassar dropped to 12-20 and 3-7.
The Golden Knights scored nine runs in the first inning to take control of the doubleheader’s opener. Rob Cowin (Albany, NY) doubled and scored twice in the inning as the Knights sent 14 hitters to the plate in the opening inning. Vassar chipped away with a run in the first, third and fifth innings as well as two more in the sixth, but Clarkson held on and scored one more run in the seventh inning. Cowin finished the game going 5-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBIs. TJ Brinkman (Troy, NY) went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and Brandon Barcomb (Cadyville, NY) was 2-for-3. John Smith (Hermon, NY) also went 2-for-4 and Brian Theilemann (Troy, NY) went 2-for-2, playing only the first inning before leaving with an injury.
JJ Lorence (Liverpool, NY) earned his fourth win of the season for the Golden Knights, allowing two earned runs and eight hits over seven innings, his third complete game of the season.
In the second game, the Golden Knights picked up three runs in the first few innings, but Vassar scored three in the fourth inning, two more in the fifth and two in the seventh to take a 7-3 lead. Clarkson rallied for six runs in the top of the eighth inning, as the Knights took a 9-7 lead on a two-run single by Barcomb. However, Clarkson lost the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning with a three-run showing as Vassar took a 10-9 lead. With two outs in the top of the ninth inning, Stefan Casey (Waterbury, VT) walked, Theilemann walked, and Mike Onisk (Baldwinsville, NY) added an infield single to score a run. Cowin reached on a fielder’s choice and another run scored and then Jay Josef (Liverpool, NY) put the game out of reach with a two-run double.
Darrell Carey (Bohemia, NY) picked up the victory to improve to 2-1 on the season and John Smith earned the save in the ninth, his second of the season.
Barcomb went 4-for-5 with three RBI to lead the Knights while Josef added three RBIs on his 3-for-5 performance. Onisk also was 3-for-4 and both Lorence and Smith went 2-for-5. Barcomb, who tripled in the second contest, set a new Clarkson record with his sixth three-bagger of the season. He also extended his hitting streak to 11 games and is 15-for-21 in his last six games.
