Potsdam, NY – Nineteen hits combined was all that the Clarkson University Baseball team and Skidmore could muster on Saturday afternoon, but the Thoroughbreds came through with five runs total to the Golden Knights two, sweeping the doubleheader from the Green and Gold, 2-1 and 3-1, at Jack Phillips Stadium.

The Golden Knights moved to 15-17 overall and 9-8 in the Liberty League, while Skidmore moved to 20 victories on the season at 20-15 and 11-9 in conference games.

Following Friday’s excellent pitching display, another pitchers’ duel took place in the opening game of the doubleheader on Saturday as Clarkson’s Austin Pitkin (Dexter, NY) and Skidmore’s Nick Laracuente locked up. Both pitched masterfully, as the Knights were only able to score one unearned run in the first inning and Skidmore scraped by with two. Clarkson picked up its run when Matt Giordano (Liverpool, NY) opened the game with a single through the left side. He advanced on a failed pickoff attempt and stolen base, then coming home on a groundout by Matt Curry (Richland, NY).

Skidmore tied the score in the third when Jake Mendell reached base on a two-out catcher’s interference call. Anthony Ferri followed with a triple to plate Mendell, but Ferri was thrown out at the plate after an overthrow to end the threat. In the fifth, Skidmore scored what proved to be the game-winner when Brian Lowry doubled home Ed Reilly from first base.

Clarkson threatened in the top of the seventh inning as Sal DiSanza (Elbridge, NY) reached on a two-out hit by pitch and advanced around to third on a steal and an error by the catcher. Matt Giordano followed with a walk and a steal of second to put the go-ahead run in scoring position, but the wind held up a Matt Curry flare and the Thoroughbreds got out of the jam.

Pitkin took the loss for Clarkson, going six innings and allowing just one earned run, five hits, and a walk, while striking out four. Laracuente was even better in his complete game victory, going seven innings and striking out five while walking three and giving up just four hits. He also induced 10 groundouts.

Giordano, who stole three bases and broke Clarkson’s single-season mark for steals in a season (23), was 2-for-3 to lead the Knights, while Anthony Ferri went 2-for-3 for Skidmore. The Thoroughbreds Justin Morelli went 0-for-3, ending his 22-game hitting streak.

In game two, the Knights once again jumped on the scoreboard in the first inning when Matt Giordano scored from third on a double play, but that was all that Clarkson would get in the nightcap of the doubleheader.

Clarkson starter Greg Chojecki (West Seneca, NY) started off the game for Clarkson well, striking out five and facing the minimum through the first three frames. However, the fourth inning continued to be a bane for the Knights as Skidmore’s Jake Mendell drove in Lowry after a single and a steal. The Thoroughbreds then scored a pair of unearned runs in the sixth inning on back-to-back sacrifice flies from Justin Morelli and Mike Jaffe.

Skidmore starter Derek Stork was shaky with his control to start, but settled down to get 13 groundball outs. He struck out seven and allowed just five hits and two walks over nine innings. Chojecki finished with six strikeouts and one walk (an intentional pass), giving up four hits in six innings. Vinnie Baldwin (Catskill, NY) pitched the final two innings and allowed a hit while striking out two.

Matt Curry and Cale Giroux (Cortland, NY) each had two hits for the Knights while Lowry had a multi-hit game for Skidmore.