Rochester, NY – Seniors Andy Noonan (Central Square, NY) and Dan Hojnacki (Attica, NY) each picked up league victories for the Clarkson University Baseball team on Sunday as the Golden Knights swept a Liberty League doubleheader from Rochester, 5-2 and 9-6.
The Golden Knights improved to 13-6 overall and claimed first place in the conference with a perfect 4-0 mark over the weekend. Rochester dropped to 15-11-1 and 1-3 in the Liberty League.
Clarkson came out in the first game with a four-run third inning with run-scoring hits by Brandon Barcomb (Cadyville, NY), TJ Brinkman (Troy, NY) and Stefan Casey (Waterbury, VT). The Yellowjackets responded with an unearned run in the bottom of the third and another run in the sixth inning, but Clarkson sealed the win with an RBI-single from Barcomb. Brinkman and Barcomb each finished the game at 2-for-4.
Noonan picked up his fourth win of the season by allowing just five hits over seven innings. He struck out four and walked just one.
In the second game, the Golden Knights scored three runs in the top of the first inning with Barcomb again contributing an RBI-single. Casey and JJ Lorence (Liverpool, NY) each added run-scoring, bases loaded walks to give the Knights a 3-0 advantage. With a 6-2 lead going into the bottom of the seventh inning, Rochester scored four unearned runs to tie the game. The Golden Knights responded with three runs in the top of the eighth inning as Casey plated two on a single and Lorence drove in another with a sacrifice fly.
Rob Cowin (Albany, NY) went 3-for-6 with a run scored while the two through five hitters, Jay Josef (Liverpool, NY), Barcomb, Brinkman, and Casey each picked up two hits, as did senior Mike Onisk (Baldwinsville, NY).
Hojnacki earned his second win of the season, going seven innings and allowing six runs, all of them unearned. The righthander struck out six and didn’t walk a batter, but scattered nine hits. John Smith (Hermon, NY) came on in relief and pitched two hitless innings for his first save of the season, striking out two hitters.
