Saratoga, NY – Less than 24 hours after pounding out 20 hits in a nine-inning game, the Clarkson University Baseball team’s bats were silenced against a pair of Skidmore pitchers as the Golden Knights dropped a pair of pitchers’ duels, 2-0 and 2-1, Saturday afternoon.

The Golden Knights moved to 4-11 overall and 3-5 in the Liberty League, while Skidmore improved to 13-5 and 6-2. Clarkson hosts Plattsburgh State in a non-league doubleheader at 2:00 pm on Wednesday at Jack Phillips Stadium at Snell Field.

In the first game, Skidmore scored two runs in the third inning, both unearned, to give the Thoroughbreds a 2-0 lead. Neither team put together much offensively as both squads’ pitchers let the hitters put the ball in play and let the defense do the work.

Trailing by two going into the bottom of the seventh inning, Matt Curry (Richland, NY) doubled to lead off the frame. David Kinney (Mexico, NY) worked a walk to put runners on first and second, and cleanup hitter Brett Peplowski (Albany, NY) pushed both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Following the inevitable intentional walk to Brady Torbitt (Fulton, NY), sophomore Dan Padrazo (Setaucket, NY) grounded into a double play to end the threat and give Skidmore the victory.

Freshman Bryan Chudy (Goshen, NY) pitched well, but fell short of earning the victory. He threw seven innings and gave up just one hit and walked two, while a pair of unearned runs thwarted his chance at the win. Skidmore starter Spencer Marcus was equally impressive, going seven innings and also allowing just three baserunners, giving up two hits and a walk. The two pitchers combined to strike out just three hitters over the course of the seven-inning contest.

In the second game, it was more of the same as both offenses couldn’t take advantage of their minimal chances. Clarkson had the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the first inning after a hit, a hit by pitch, and a walk, but a fielder’s choice was all that came through in the situation as Torbitt drove in the Knights’ lone run of the contest.

Skidmore didn’t get on the scoreboard until the sixth inning when Matt Pisani tied the score 1-1 with a sacrifice fly. Pisani delivered a two-out single to score Jake Mendell in the eighth inning to lift the Thoroughbreds to a 2-1 advantage.

Alex Giovannone (New Hartford, NY) had the start for Clarkson and went 5 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits and walking two while giving up just one run. Vince Baldwin (Catskill, NY) took the loss in relief, allowing a run in two innings of bullpen duty. Skidmore’s Derek Stork threw a complete-game three-hitter, allowing just one run and walking three while striking out two batters.