Saratoga Springs, N.Y.-- The Skidmore College baseball team earned a chance to defend its Liberty League title with a pair of wins against St. Lawrence University on Sunday at Castle Diamond. The Thoroughbreds clinched a playoff spot after winning the first game 5-2 and holding off the Saints in the second for a 4-3 win.
Skidmore (24-8, 11-7 Liberty) is in second place in the conference, two games behind Rensselaer. The teams will close out their league schedules in a four-game home and home series May 7-8. St. Lawrence (16-16, 9-10) remains in playoff contention with four games next weekend against Clarkson.
The Thoroughbreds were the "away" team in both games.
In the first game, St. Lawrence got on the board in the first when Brian Palermo singled, stole second and third and later scored on an infield ground out.
Skidmore took a 2-1 lead in the third. Logan Arena and Rob Rubenstein hit consecutive singles with Arena scoring on a Zack Rudman double. Rubenstein then scored on a Eric Watkins sacrifice fly.
The Thoroughbred score two more in the fifth. Brain Lowry drilled an 0-2 pitch to double to left center and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Arena singled to plate Lowery. Rubenstein walked and Rudman was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Arena was out at home on a fielders choice. A walk to Jeremy Selecky scored Rubenstein for the 4-1 lead.
The Saints got one back in the bottom of the fifth when Ethan Braddock opened the inning with a singled and later scored on an infield out.
Skidmore scored its final run in the seventh when Alex Barber walked and later scored on a wild pitch.
Trevor Brucato improved to 5-1 with the complete game win. He allowed two runs on six hits, with one walk and six strike outs. Arena and Rubenstein were each 2-3.
For St. Lawrence Pat Considine (3-5) took the loss, throwing 5.1 innings. Braddock and Carter Franz had two hits each. Leftfielder Brian Magoveny had two more diving catches to keep the game close.
In the second game, Skidmore took led 4-1 into the eighth, before the Saints scored two in the eighth to get close, 4-3.
Rubenstein hit a two-out double in the first and then scored on Zack Rudman single for the early 1-0 lead. Arena had a two-out double, two-run double in the second for a 3-0 lead. St. Lawrence got one back in the bottom of the second, when Matt DeLuca hit his second home run of the season.
Rudman homered off the scoreboard with two outs in the fourth for what would prove to be the winning run.
The Saints opened the eight with a pair of singles by Carter Franz and Bryan Palermo. After a strikeout, Franz scored on a sac fly by Khifer O'Connor. Bryan Magoveny singled to score Palermo, but Thoroughbred reliever Chad Keysor struck out DeLuca to end the threat.
St. Lawrence threatened in the bottom of the ninth when Jeff Kott opened the inning with a double, but Keysor retired the next three batters to earn his second save.
Issac Forman tossed four scoreless no-hit innings in relief to even his record at 2-2. He struck out five and walked one. Rudman was 3-4 with two RBI. LeeJay Pollacchi was 2-4.
Matt Skelly took the loss for the Saints, striking out eight and walking none in seven innings. Franz and Kott had two hits each for St. Lawrence.
Skidmore will host New Paltz in a nonleague game on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
Skidmore College 5, St. Lawrence 2 (May 01, 2011 at Saratoga Springs, NY) (Game 1)
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Skidmore College.... 002 020 1 - 5 8 1 (23-8, 10-7 Liberty)
St. Lawrence........ 100 010 0 - 2 6 0 (16-15, 9-9 Liberty)
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Pitchers: Skidmore College - Trevor Brucato and Logan Arena. St. Lawrence - Pat Considine;
Andrew Weitzel(6) and Joshin Atone.
Win-Trevor Brucato(5-1) Loss-Pat Considine(3-5) T-2:17 A-235
Weather: Clear, 60 at start
Game: SCBB51A
Skidmore College 4, St. Lawrence 3 (May 01, 2011 at Saratoga Springs, NY) (Game 2)
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Skidmore College.... 120 010 000 - 4 11 1 (24-8, 11-7 Liberty)
St. Lawrence........ 010 000 020 - 3 7 0 (16-16, 9-10 Liberty)
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Pitchers: Skidmore College - Brian Lowry; Isaac Forman(4); Jordan Keysor(8) and Logan Arena.
St. Lawrence - Matt Skelly; Kyle Donaldson(8) and Matt D'Auteuil; Joshin Atone.
Win-Isaac Forman(2-2) Save-Jordan Keysor(2) Loss-Matt Skelly(1-4) T-2:24 A-235
HR SKIDMORE - Zack Rudman (1).
HR SLU - Matt DeLuca (2).
Game: SCBB51B