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Clarkson comes from seven runs behind to walk off against Union

Posted 4/30/17

After falling behind early twice, the Clarkson University Baseball team battled back for one walk-off win, but could not do the same in the second game as the Golden Knights split a doubleheader with …

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Clarkson comes from seven runs behind to walk off against Union

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After falling behind early twice, the Clarkson University Baseball team battled back for one walk-off win, but could not do the same in the second game as the Golden Knights split a doubleheader with Union on Saturday in Jack Phillips Stadium.

Clarkson is now 16-16 on the season and is 12-8 in the Liberty League. The Dutchmen are 18-11 on the year and 12-6 in conference.

In the first game of the day, Clarkson trailed 7-0 after one and a half innings, but the Green and Gold battled all the way back to earn a 9-8 walk off victory.

Union jumped on Clarkson right away. After the first batter of the game was retired, three straight singles gave Union a 2-0 lead. A stolen base and a wild pitch put another Union runner on third base with two outs, but Clarkson looked to be out of the inning as Joe Ganim hit a groundball. However, a Clarkson error kept the inning alive and allowed a third run to score.

In the second, a Clarkson error was again taken advantage of by Union. The Dutchmen used two singles to put runners on the corners with two men away. The next batter hit a groundball, but the error allowed him to reach base as well as scoring two runs. Two consecutive singles after that brought home two more runs to increase the lead to seven runs.

Clarkson started to chip away in the bottom of the second when Nate Burns' groundout scored Cam Bando who had singled. The Green and Gold got two more runs in the third inning thanks to three Union errors. However, after a Union run in the top of the fifth, followed by an RBI sacrifice fly by Joe Fraser in the bottom half of the same frame, the Golden Knights still trailed by four runs heading into the bottom of the seventh.

Chris Miller gave Clarkson a base runner to start the seventh as he singled, but he was quickly erased when Brad Pearson hit into a fielder's choice. Consecutive singles from Dom Pirro and Fraser loaded the bases and brought the tying run to the plate. Bando then launched a double into the right centerfield gap to score Pearson and Pirro. After a Union pitching change, Ben Knauf walked to put the winning run on first base. Next up was Mike Messier and on the first pitch he saw, he doubled down the right field line, scoring both Fraser and Bando. As Union tried to get the ball back into the infield, a throwing error allowed Knauf to come flying in from third base and score the game-winning run.

The second game of the day also saw Union get out to an early lead, but this time Clarkson could not come back, falling 8-7.

Five hits in the top of the first, all singles, as well as a Clarkson error helped Union take a 4-0 lead. A Union error in the bottom of the first allowed Miller to score after he had led off the inning with a single.

Four more singles in the top of the third was enough for Union to add two more runs. Clarkson answered in the third as Miller once again singled and then came around to score on another Union error. Clarkson added another run when a Bando single through the right side scored Pirro.

Union's hit parade continued in the top of the fourth. The Dutchmen had four more hits, again all singles, to score two more runs. That made the score 8-3, which was the biggest lead of the game for Union.

Clarkson chipped away at the lead, scoring in the fifth and sixth innings. Pearson led off the fifth with a double down the left field line and then Pirro singled through the left side. A passed ball allowed Pearson to score and Pirro to move up to second base. After a groundout advanced Pirro to third, Bando's sacrifice fly brought him home to score. In the sixth, Joe Stockman walked to put a runner on base with two outs. Miller hit his third single of the game to send Stockman to second and then a Union error moved the runners up to second and third. Another Union error scored both Stockman and Miller to close the gap to just one run.

Clarkson's best chance to tie the game came in the bottom of the seventh. Singles by Fraser and Bando started the inning. A fielder's choice and a strikeout left the Golden Knights in the same position with two outs on the board. Stockman was able to single to left field and Bando tried to go from second all the way home. A strong throw from left field beat Bando to the plate and he was tagged out to end the inning. In the eighth and ninth innings, Clarkson put the tying run on base, but could not advance him past second base on either occasion.

Ted Wilson threw a complete game in the win, his third of the year. Just three of the eight runs Wilson allowed were earned as he gave up 13 hits and one walk, while striking out four. Wilson is now a perfect 6-0 on the season. In the loss, Mike Bubniak allowed seven earned runs in three and two thirds innings. Mark Connor relieved him and allowed just four hits in five and a third scoreless innings.

Pirro had three hits in the first game while Fraser, Bando, and Messier each drove in a pair of runs. Pirro had three more hits in the second game with Miller also hitting safely three times. Bando had two hits in both of the games while Fraser had a pair in the second game.

Clarkson will close out its regular season with two more games against Union. The doubleheader will start at 12:00 noon on Sunday afternoon.