Auburn, N.Y. – Castleton scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the ninth to defeat Skidmore 7-6 and eliminate the Thoroughbreds from the NCAA Division III Baseball Regional at Falcon Park in Auburn, N.Y.

 

Skidmore ends its season with a 30-15 record. The 30 victories are a new school record.

 

The Thoroughbreds were able to get on the board in the top of the first when Zack Rudman doubled home Brian Lowry for an early 1-0 lead.   After the Spartans tied it up in the second, Skidmore took the lead right back when Matty Tatkow scored on a wild pitch, making it a 2-1 game.

 

Castleton took the lead back on a pair of RBI singles from David Brandt and Ryan Zielinski in the fourth and tacked on another run in the fifth to pull ahead and take a 4-2 lead.

 

The Thoroughbreds fought back and took advantage of a Spartan error to score four runs in the sixth and take the lead back at 6-4. Jake Mendell and Adam Cornachione each drove in a run during the inning.

 

A sacrifice fly from Brandt pulled Castleton within one in the seventh inning. 

 

Cesar De La Cruz led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk for the Spartans and would later score when Zielinski reached on a fielding error to tie it at 7-7. One batter later, Zielinski would score from second on a throwing error to give the Castleton a walk-off win.
 

Spencer Marcus got the start for Skidmore and allowed five runs in 6.1 innings of work. Rudman took the loss to fall to 0-2.

 

Tyler Erickson picked up the win for Spartans, allowing four runs (one earned) in five innings of relief.

 

Matt Pisani finished 3-for-5 and Rob Rubenstein added two hits for the Thoroughbreds.

 

Both teams had plenty of chances to score as Skidmore left 11 on base and Castleton left 15.

Castleton St. Coll. 7, Skidmore 6 (May 20, 2010 at Auburn, NY)

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Skidmore............ 101 004 000  -  6  9  4      (30-15)

Castleton St. Coll.. 010 210 102  -  7 14  1      (33-15)

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Pitchers: Skidmore - S.MARCUS; J.KEYSOR(7); Z.RUDMAN(9) and M.PISANI. Castleton St. Coll. -

B. Sisko; T. Erickson(5) and T. Mills.

Win-T. Erickson(8-4)  Loss-Z.RUDMAN(0-2)  T-3:21  A-175

Weather: Clear, high 60s

Game notes:

NCAA Div. III Regional - Game 5

B. Sisko faced 2 batters in the 5th.

Game: NCAA5