SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.— The Skidmore College baseball team dropped the first two games of its four-game Liberty League series with RIT, 3-0 and 8-6 Friday at Castle Diamond. The teams return to Castle to finish the weekend series on Saturday at 12 p.m.

The game one loss snapped Skidmore's program record-tying nine-game win streak. The Thoroughbreds are 16-11 and 6-8 in Liberty League play, while the Tigers are 14-13 and 9-5.
 
GAME 1
The first game was a classic pitching match-up between two of the league's top hurlers in Skidmore's Jay Gamboa and RIT's Stevie Branche.

The Tigers got to Gamboa for two runs (one earned) with one out in the first inning. He settled down to retire 11 straight batters to keep the game close.

RIT scored its third run in the fifth inning, while Branche (3-2) held the Thoroughbreds to two hits, striking out nine. Despite throwing 132 pitches, Branche stayed sharp, retiring the final eight Skidmore batters.

Gamboa (6-1) lost for the first time this season, going the distance. He allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits, with two walks and four strikeouts.

Sam Browning and Justin LaRose each singled for the Thoroughbreds, who stranded six runners.

GAME 2
RIT scored five runs in the eighth inning to erase a 5-3 Skidmore lead on the way to the 8-6 win.

Browning blasted two solo home runs, including one in a four-run Skidmore sixth inning. Pat Geiger was 1-5 with a two-run double in the sixth. Will Snyder was 2-5 with a run.

Starter Spencer Myer went five innings for the no decision. He allowed two runs on seven hits. Jonathan Kaiser (2-2) took the loss in relief.
 
COMING UP:
The teams are back it Saturday at 12 p.m. Skidmore's Monday game with Southern Vermont was cancelled. The Thoroughbreds are at St. Lawrence for a four-game set April 27-28.