KNIGHTS SWEEP DOUBLEHEADER VS VASSAR, LORENCE GETS SECOND SHUTOUT

April 25, 2004

Chad Sydor hit two home runs and a double in CU's sweep of Vassar - photo by Chris Lenney

Potsdam, NY – Senior Chad Sydor (Troy, NY) hit two home runs and a double as the Clarkson University Baseball team swept an Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association (UCAA) doubleheader from Vassar, 6-0 and 11-10, Sunday afternoon at Clarkson’s Snell Field.

The Golden Knights, winners of six in a row, improved to 17-13 overall and 9-3 in the UCAA while Vassar dropped to 14-18 and 3-9. With the sweep, Clarkson clinched at least second place in the UCAA. If Rensselaer wins at least one game from Rochester in a doubleheader next Friday, the Golden Knights will clinch the regular season title and host the UCAA Tournament.

In the opening game, the Golden Knights started off the scoring when leadoff hitter Chad Sydor hit the first pitch he saw for a solo home run to left field. The Golden Knights tacked four more runs on in the bottom of the first inning with run-scoring hits from Brandon Barcomb (Cadyville, NY), Mike Ruffinen (Wynantskill, NY) and TJ Brinkman (Troy, NY). Clarkson added another run in the third inning when Mike Onisk (Baldwinsville, NY) scored on a groundout by Brinkman.

J.J. Lorence (Liverpool, NY) threw a complete game shutout, allowing four hits over seven innings and striking out six and walking none. It was Lorence’s second complete game shutout of the season. Lorence was also the only Clarkson hitter to record at least two hits.

In the second game, the Golden Knights opened the game with two in the bottom of the first, but thanks to three errors and several hits, Vassar forced seven runs on the board in the top of the second inning. Clarkson responded with a three-run home run in the bottom of the inning by Sydor and added two more runs on a bases loaded walk and a wild pitch. Clarkson added an eighth run in the third inning on another wild pitch, scoring Sydor. Clarkson went up 10-7 with a two-run single from Brian Theilemann (Troy, NY). Vassar cut the lead to a single run in the top of the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly and an error, but Clarkson scored their 11^th run in bottom of the inning when Giovan Scialdone (Colonie, NY), who went 3-for-4, drove in a run with a single. Kristaps Aldins hit a double down the right field line in the top of the ninth inning, scoring Paul Noonan, but he was caught in a run down between second and third to end the game.

Nick Huffman (Fulton, NY) earned his fourth win of the season while Stefan Casey (Waterbury, VT) pitched four solid innings for a well-deserved save. With the win, Huffman picked up his 16th career victory, surpassing Matt Nolan as the Golden Knights' all-time wins leader. Aaron Beatty took the loss for Vassar.

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