Potsdam, NY - A two-run single from Bobby Derico (Watervliet, NY) capped a four-run sixth innings for the Clarkson University Baseball team as the Golden Knights rallied from five runs down to defeat Union College 6-5 in the opener of Sunday's Liberty League doubleheader at Jack Phillips Stadium. In the second contest, the Dutchmen gained a pair of runs late in the contest to hold on for a 5-2 victory.

The Golden Knights moved to 9-14 overall and 6-8 in the Liberty League with the split, while Union maintained its first-place edge in the conference at 12-2 and went to 15-5 overall.

Things did not look good in the early going for Clarkson as Union scored one in the first inning on a bases loaded fielder's choice that almost ended the frame on a double play. However, the Dutchmen would score four unearned runs in the bottom half of the second inning to push to a 5-0 lead. With two outs, Anders Goetz doubled to center field and he came around on an error. Following a walk to Dylan Katz-Wicks, Tyler Heck doubled home two runs and David Peretti singled home Heck.

Clarkson starting pitcher Pete Roma (Endicott, NY) settled down after the second inning and allowed only two hits in the final five innings, allowing the Knights to make a comeback. Clarkson scored a pair in the top of the fourth, starting with an RBI-groundout from Connor Martin (Baldwinsville, NY). Tim Beninati (Schoharie, NY) followed with his second of three hits on the day to plate another run and bring Clarkson back to within three.

It took three Union pitchers to retire the Knights in the top of the sixth inning as Dan Lenney (Clifton Park, NY), Martin, and Beninati opened the inning with base hits. Kyle Henchey (Rensselaer, NY) then delivered an RBI single to left and David Wixted (Ballston Lake, NY) pushed another run home with a fielder's choice. After Wixted moved up to second with a stolen base, Derico finished off the rally with his single to give Clarkson its first lead of the weekend.

Roma went seven innings for a complete game and allowed only six hits and two walks while striking out four. Beninati went 3-for-3 for Clarkson while John Coleman (Potsdam, NY) was 2-for-3.

In the second game, Clarkson continued to score runs by picking up one in the top half of the first. Bobby Derico earned a walk and advanced to second on a groundout before coming around on a Greg Jasek (Chittenango, NY) single. Union responded with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the second as James Mulpeter drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and Chris Donovan followed with a single to center to give the Dutchmen a 2-1 lead.

Clarkson knotted things up at 2-2 in the top hal fof the third as Dan Lenny singled home Derico, who had reached on a soft single and advanced to second with a stolen base. Union quickly regained the lead in the bottom half of the frame as Dylan Katz-Wicks led off by reaching on an error, advanced into scoring position on a single by Tyler Heck, and then came around on an errant throw on an attempted double play. Jarrod Mattingly (Philadelphia, NY) and Jamie Faber matched zeroes for the next four innings before Union picked up two insurance runs in the eighth inning. Vincent Esposito led off the inning with a single and advanced to third after a sacrifice bunt, walk, and hit by pitch. He then came home on a wild pitch, which mattered little as Sam Caruso singled home Tyler Heck later in the same at bat.

Mattingly finished with a complete-game eight-inning effort, allowing eight hits while striking out three. Faber gained the win, going seven innings and allowing six hits while Matt Yonta came on to earn the save by pitching two scoreless frames.