Skip To Main Content

Scoreboard

Clarkson University Athletics

Clarkson Drops Consecutive 6-5 Games

By: April 8, 2017
KnaufBen2016a1

Men's Baseball | 4/8/2017 6:57:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 A failed comeback and a walk-off hit cost the Clarkson University Baseball team who lost the first two games of a four game series against RPI on Saturday afternoon.
 
Clarkson is now 7-9 on the season and is 4-4 in conference. RPI moves to 10-12 overall and 6-2 in the Liberty League.
 
In the first game, the two teams were tight through the first four and a half innings. Clarkson took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, when Ben Knauf singled to left field, moved to second and third on a pair of groundouts, and then scored on a passed ball. The Engineers answered the same inning though to tie the game at one.
 
RPI broke the game open with a big fifth inning. Two singles and a Clarkson error loaded the bases before the Golden Knights had recorded an out. Sam Lawrence then singled to bring home the first run of the inning. Sean Welling hit a ground ball to Mike Messier at third base and Messier was able to fire home to get the lead runner. However, Jason Ramos worked a full count walk to force home another run. After a Clarkson pitching change, Thomas Desmond and Ethann Meister both singled, with Desmond getting one RBI and Meister driving in two Engineers. A double play on the next batter finally got Clarkson out of the inning.
 
Down five runs with just six outs left, Clarkson started to claw back with three runs in the top of the sixth inning. Knauf and Joe Stockman started the inning with singles and Knauf was able to move to third on Stockman's hit to put runners on the corners. After one Clarkson batter was retired, Nate Burns reached on an RPI error that also allowed Knauf to score. Cam Bando then doubled down the right field line to plate Stockman. Dom Pirro followed with a groundout to the second baseman, but that was enough to score Burns for the third run of the frame.
 
Clarkson held RPI scoreless in its half of the sixth and entered the seventh inning down by two runs. Joe Fraser started the inning with a bang thanks to a double down the left field line. A Brad Pearson groundout moved pinch runner Connor Dietrich to third base and then Dietrich scored on a Knauf ground out. However, that was all Clarkson got as the next batter was retired.
 
Andrew Smith started the game on the mound for Clarkson and he went four and one third innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits, four walks, and two strikeouts. Ryan Riley pitched the final one and two thirds innings, allowing just three hits and zero runs.
 
In the second game, Clarkson took leads in both the 10th and 11th innings, but RPI rallied both times and took a 6-5 win after 11 innings.  
 
Clarkson scored the first run of the game in the top of the third inning. Stockman and Ernesto Ruiz-Sierra led off with consecutive singles through the right side and then advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Burns. Bando got an RBI when his single to center field scored Stockman. After a ground out, Chris Miller walked to load the bases, but Clarkson could not get a timely hit, leaving all three runners stranded.
 
RPI took the lead with two runs in its half of the third. With the bases loaded and two away, Lawrence singled to bring home two runs.
 
Clarkson answered in the fourth as Brad Pearson walked, moved up on a ground out and then stole third base. Pearson came home when RPI's catcher made a throwing error.
 
That was all the scoring in regulation though and the teams went to the 10th inning still tied. 
 
Clarkson took the lead in extras when Pearson's single up the middle scored Miller. A Desmond single in the bottom half tied the game back up though. RPI had a golden chance to end the game in the same inning when it loaded the bases, but Burns induced a ground out to end the threat.
 
The Green and Gold once again took the lead in the top of the 11th. Stockman and Messier singled to give Clarkson two baserunners. Burns reached on a fielder's choice that left Stockman on third and Burns on first. After a Clarkson strikeout, Burns stole second to get in scoring position. That proved important as Pirro's single up the middle scored both Stockman and Burns.
 
That lead was not safe though as a Clarkson error and a hit batter put two Engineers on base with just one out. Lawrence grabbed yet another hit and this one scored a run to draw RPI within one. After another RPI single loaded the bases, Desmond singled to left center to score two runners and give the Engineers a walk-off victory.
 
Rory Corcoran started the game for Clarkson and pitched seven strong innings. He allowed just two earned runs on five hits and five strikeouts. Pirro relieved him for two and one third innings and allowed one run on zero hits, five walks, and four strikeouts. Burns was the final pitcher for Clarkson and he allowed two earned runs on four hits in one inning of work.
 
Bando, Miller, Stockman and Knauf all had three hits across the two games while Ruiz-Sierra had hits in all three of his at-bats in the second game.
 
The two teams will meet for another doubleheader on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 12:00 noon.
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Rory Corcoran

#19 Rory Corcoran

RHP
6' 2"
Junior
R/R
Connor Dietrich

#33 Connor Dietrich

OF
6' 3"
Senior
R/R
Ben Knauf

#24 Ben Knauf

OF
6' 4"
Junior
R/R
Mike Messier

#4 Mike Messier

IF
5' 9"
Sophomore
R/R
Chris Miller

#11 Chris Miller

OF
6' 0"
Senior
L/L
Brad Pearson

#25 Brad Pearson

C
5' 11"
Sophomore
L/R
Dom Pirro

#22 Dom Pirro

RHP/OF
6' 1"
Senior
R/R
Ryan Riley

#34 Ryan Riley

RHP
6' 0"
Sophomore
R/R
Andrew Smith

#2 Andrew Smith

RHP
6' 2"
Junior
R/R
Joe Stockman

#10 Joe Stockman

IF
6' 2"
Freshman
R/R

Players Mentioned

Rory Corcoran

#19 Rory Corcoran

6' 2"
Junior
R/R
RHP
Connor Dietrich

#33 Connor Dietrich

6' 3"
Senior
R/R
OF
Ben Knauf

#24 Ben Knauf

6' 4"
Junior
R/R
OF
Mike Messier

#4 Mike Messier

5' 9"
Sophomore
R/R
IF
Chris Miller

#11 Chris Miller

6' 0"
Senior
L/L
OF
Brad Pearson

#25 Brad Pearson

5' 11"
Sophomore
L/R
C
Dom Pirro

#22 Dom Pirro

6' 1"
Senior
R/R
RHP/OF
Ryan Riley

#34 Ryan Riley

6' 0"
Sophomore
R/R
RHP
Andrew Smith

#2 Andrew Smith

6' 2"
Junior
R/R
RHP
Joe Stockman

#10 Joe Stockman

6' 2"
Freshman
R/R
IF