Saints, Clarkson Split

MAY 2: Steve Bodnar pitched a one-hit shutout as St. Lawrence University won game one of a Liberty League doubleheader with Clarkson 4-0 on Saturday, but the Golden Knights came back to win the nightcap 4-2.

The two teams, each in the thick of the race for a Liberty League playoff spot, will meet again at noon Sunday in Potdam. SLU, 17-16 overall and 10-12 in league play needs a sweep of the Knights to jump into the fourth and final playoff spot. Clarkson, 16-18, 10-9, can hold onto that spot with one win in Sunday's set.

Bodnar struck out six and walked two in his game one gem, allowing only a fourth inning double to Brady Torbitt. The Saints took the lead with a run in the bottom of the third as Garrett Fitzgerald walked against Clarkson's Rick Biitner, moved to second on Chris Donaldson's ground out, went to third on Bryan Brennan's fly ball and scored on Sam Kelly's two-out double to left.

The Saints added three runs in the bottom of the sixth for insurance as Ryan Duff singled home one run with two out, Tim Harris doubled and Kirk Shimkin hit a two-run single.

Clarkson jumped out to a 2-0 first inning lead against Saint starter Sean Voss in the second game and David Goerold shut the Saints out for six innings in Clarkson's 4-2 second game win. The Knights tacked on a run in the fifth and another in the ninth for a 4-0 lead before the Saints rallied for two in the bottom of the ninth.

Fitzgerald led off the ninth inning rally for the Saints with a single and Donaldson doubled. Brennan hit a sacrifice fly for one run and Kelly hit a run-scoring single to center before Vince Baldwin got the final two outs to preserve the win.