Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The Skidmore College men's baseball team split a doubleheader with Liberty League rival Clarkson, Saturday afternoon at Castle Diamond.  The Knights took the first game 6-0, while SKidmore earned a 5-3 victory in the second game.

With the split, Skidmore moves to 2-2 in conference play and 5-7 overall.  Clarkson is now 2-2 in the Liberty league standings and 4-8 overall.

The first game featured strong pitching from both sides as neither allowed a run through the first four innings of play. 
Skidmore pitcher, Jordan Keysor found a groove early, retiring 10 batters in a row before a leadoff double in the fifth by Tim Beninati broke the streak.  Keysor walked the next batter and a sacrifice bunt by Kyle Henchey moved both runners into scoring position for Clarkson.  Consecutive singles plated two for the Knights, but Skidmore induced John Coleman to ground into an inning-ending double play to escape further trouble.

Clarkson took advantage of two Skidmore errors in the sixth, plating four runs after sending nine batters to the plate in the inning to close out the game with the 6-0 win.

Keysor (0-2) takes the loss for Skidmore after allowing six runs (three earned) in five innings of work.  Greg Jasek earns the complete game shutout for Clarkson, throwing seven innings and allowing four hits while striking out three.

Geoff Green went 2-3 in the game, while Jeff Spindel was 1-2 with a walk.  Alex Barber had one hit in three at-bats.

Beninati was 1-2 with a double, a walk and two runs scored for the Knights.  Nolan Driscoll went 1-2 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored.

In the second game of the doubleheader, Skidmore got off to a quick start, plating two runs in the second inning.  Jeb Clarke started the two-run rally with a single to left field before Jeremy Selecky launched a double to the right field warning track advancing Clarke to third.  With one out and two Thoroughbreds in scoring position, Leejay Pollacchi stepped up to the plate and connected for a single up the middle that scored both Clarke and Selecky giving Skidmore the 2-0 advantage.

Clarkson made up the deficit with two runs of its own in the bottom of the second after a lead-off walk and a Skidmore error placed two Knights on base.  The Knight runners moved into scoring position after a Skidmore balk allowing a Martin groundout to the Shortstop to plate a run, making it 2-1.

The next batter, Scott Morrissey singled, plating Derico and Clarkson's second run in the process.

Consecutive singles in the top of the third by Jeff Spindel and Matty Tatkow allowed Skidmore to reclaim the lead after a Clarke out scored Spindel with the go-ahead run.

Clarkson evened the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth when David Wixted worked a two out walk and came around to score on a John Coleman double.

Keysor recovered nicely, setting down the side in order in the sixth before wriggling out of a two-out jam when Tatkow launched a ball from right field to the waiting glove of Alex Pavelock who tagged out the Clarkson runner to keep the game knotted at 3 runs each.

After both teams hurled scoreless seventh and eighth innings, Pollacchi led off the top of the ninth with a sharp single to center field and promptly stole second to put the go-ahead run into scoring position for the Thoroughbreds.  The next batter, Geoff Green smashed a double allowing Pollacchi to stroll home giving Skidmore the 3-2 advantage.  Watkins followed with a double of his own, replacing Green at second base and giving Skidmore a two-run cushion.

Nick Petrella entered the game in the ninth for Skidmore and set down the side, earning the save and preserving the victory.

Nick Masterson earned the win after relieving Andrew Bannon who went seven innings and allowed three runs (one earned) on three hits.  Masterson pitched 1.1 innings and held the Knights scoreless.

Jarrod Mattingly started the game for Clarkson and went six innings, allowing three runs on six hits.  Anthony Padrazo took the loss after pitching two innings in relief and giving up two runs.

Pollacchi was 2-5 in the game with two RBI, two steals and a run scored.  Watkins also had a good day at the plate, going 2-4 with a double, an RBI and a walk.  Green was 1-4 with a double, an RBI a walk and one run scored.

For Clarkson, John Coleman was 2-3 with an RBI, two walks and a run scored, while Beninati was 1-3 with a walk.

Skidmore will return to action April 6 at 1 p.m. when it travels to Canton, N.Y. for a conference doubleheader against St. Lawrence.