Rochester, NY – A four-run rally in the sixth inning gave the Clarkson University Baseball team a solid lead late in the game, but a walk-off fielder’s choice in the bottom of the ninth sent the Golden Knights into the losers’ bracket of the Liberty League Tournament with a 7-6 loss to Skidmore College Friday afternoon.
The Golden Knights dropped to 17-17 on the season and will face the loser of St. Lawrence/Rochester at 10:00 am tomorrow morning. Skidmore improved to 28-13 overall and continues on to the winners’ bracket.
Clarkson struck first with a run in the top of the opening inning as Jerry Coleman (Potsdam, NY) started things off with a walk. After a hit from Justin McInerney (Grand Island, NY) and a fly out by David Kinney (Mexico, NY), senior Brett Peplowski (Albany, NY) singled through the right side to drive in Coleman.
Skidmore responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning, and picked up two more in the fourth to take a 3-1 advantage. However, Clarkson put pressure on in the sixth inning, scoring four times. Brady Torbitt (Fulton, NY) reached on a double to start the frame and Matt Curry (Richland, NY) knocked him in to cut the deficit to 3-2. Curry scored on a double play to tie the game up at 3-3, and Coleman followed that up by hitting a two-out, two-run home run to left-center, giving the Knights a 5-3 advantage.
Skidmore scored once in the bottom of the sixth to make it 5-4, but Clarkson came right back with a run in the seventh on an RBI-single from Torbitt. Unfortunately, Clarkson wouldn’t score again and Skidmore rallied to tie the score in the bottom of the eighth. In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Thoroughbreds would push home the game-winner. Spencer Marcus started off with a walk and Brian Lowry doubled to push him to third. After an intentional walk to Zach Rudman, loading the bases, Anthony Ferri hit a liner at second baseman Anthony Farrell (Topsham, ME). Farrell snagged the ball on the hop, but couldn’t scurry to his feet quick enough to throw out the runner at the plate, giving the Thoroughbreds the victory.
Coleman went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and a pair driven in, while McInerney, Torbitt, and Peplowski each went 2-for-5. David Goerold (Clifton Park, NY) pitched eight innings and had a no-decision and struck out seven.