Clarkson Athletics - ROWAN SWEEPS KNIGHTS, HOJNACKI THROWS 4-HITTER

Naples, FL – Juniors Dan Hojnacki (Attica, NY) and Andy Noonan (Central Square, NY) followed up the performances of their teammates on Saturday with outstanding opening outings, but for the second straight day the Clarkson University Baseball team dropped two games, this time both ends of a doubleheader to nationally-ranked Rowan University, 3-1 and 6-0.

Hojnacki allowed just four hits over six innings and struck out six batters. He allowed just one earned run in the second inning, but the Profs (10-1) scored unearned runs in both the first and third innings. Clarkson produced a run on an RBI single from senior outfielder Chad Sydor (Troy, NY) in the third inning, scoring junior catcher Tom Lilienthal (Baldwinsville, NY) who had reached on an error. Clarkson threatened again in the seventh inning when they brought the go-ahead run to the plate, but Rowan’s Tom McCullen completed his start with his sixth strikeout of the game.

Sydor went 2-for-3 with two singles and an RBI, while J.J. Lorence (Liverpool, NY), Brandon Barcomb (Cadyville, NY) and Giovan Scialdone (Colonie, NY) each added hits.

In the second game of the doubleheader, Noonan gave up two runs in the second, two more in the fifth and two unearned scores in the sixth inning, scattering three hits over the first four innings before allowing five consecutive hits in the fifth. Noonan finished with three strikeouts and eight hits allowed. A.J. Podlucky (Grand Island, NY) threw a scoreless seventh inning for Clarkson. The Golden Knights earned just two hits in the game, both singles by Sydor and Lorence, and threatened with two base runners in the fourth and fifth innings before having their rallies halted.

Clarkson falls to 0-4 on the season despite allowing only 15 runs in the opening four contests. The Golden Knights’ pitchers have produced an earned run average of 3.24 over the first four games.