UNION OUSTS SAINTS IN ECAC TOURNAMENT

May 10: Union pitcher Chris Hartnett pitched seven shut-out innings and his teammates gave him a 4-0 lead as the Dutchmen turned back St. Lawrence 4-2 in the ECAC Upstate New York baseball tournament semifinals at Oneonta on Friday.

Union advances to the ECAC championship game against Oswego while the Saints finish their season with an 18-16 record.

Hartnett struck out eight in the complete game victory while Saint sophomore Nick Laettner also went the distance, surrendering eight hits and three earned runs with seven strikeouts.

Union got out of the gate quickly, scoring twice in the top of the first. Adam Chadwick opened the game with a single, advanced on a sacrifice and moved to third on an error before scoring on a wild pitch. The second Union run scored on a passed ball to give the Dutchmen a 2-0 lead.

The Dutchmen tacked on two more runs with two out in the top of the fifth, stringing together four straight singles.

The Saints cut it to a 4-2 game in the bottom of the eighth as Tim McMahon reached on an outfield error and moved to second on Jon Blumhagen's single to right. Kevin Eberz then singled in both runs, but Union escaped further damage with a double play to end the inning. Dan Albrecht walked to open the bottom of the ninth, but Hartnett picked him off and shut down the Saints with a strikeout and a fly ball to end the game.

SAINTS TO PLAY FOR ECAC UPSTATE CROWN

(May 7, 2002)-The St. Lawrence University baseball team will be playing for the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Upstate Tournament crown this weekend along with SUNY-Oneonta, Union College and SUNY-Oswego. Oneonta, the number-one seed, will host the tournament and play fourth-seeded Oswego on Friday, May 10 at 11:00 a.m. The Saints, the two-seed, will take on Union for the third time this season at 3:00 p.m. on Friday. The winners will meet on Saturday at noon.

Oneonta is 22-16 on the season including an 8-4 mark in the SUNYAC. They have a 2-2 record against teams in the tournament having swept Oswego and dropping two games to Union.

St. Lawrence is 18-15 overall and 4-4 in the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association having dropped their last six consecutive games. They had a game against Oswego cancelled this season and swept Union in a conference doubleheader, 13-1 and 9-5. The Saints last made the ECAC Tournament in 1998 when assistant coach Greg DiCenzo was a senior. As the three-seed, they beat Oneonta in the first round before falling to fourth-seed Rochester in the championship game.

Union is 18-14 overall and 5-7 in the UCAA. They last made the tournament in 1997, falling to Binghamton in the first round. Union is 2-2 against tournament competition, dropping a pair to St. Lawrence while beating top-seeded Oneonta twice.

Oswego is 14-14 overall and 5-7 in the SUNYAC with one regular season game against Keuka on the schedule. Five of their losses this season have come against Division II competition. The Lakers dropped a pair of games to Oneonta earlier in the season, 16-5 and 11-0.

SAINTS DROP FOUR ON THE WEEKEND

May 4, 2002-The St. Lawrence University baseball team was swept by Ithaca and the Rochester Institute of Technology in a pair of non-conference doubleheaders over the weekend and has now lost six straight games. The Saints managed just 10 hits in the four games with Kurt Phillipson of RIT throwing a no-hitter against the Saints in the first game on Saturday. Ithaca took 5-2 and 3-2 wins and RIT picked up 9-0 and 2-1 victories to drop the Saints to 18-15 on the season.

St. Lawrence took a 2-1 lead on Ithaca in game one in the third inning of game one, stealing a run with a squeeze bunt and a throwing error by the Bombers. Ithaca came back with one run in the fourth, two in the fifth and one in the sixth to close the scoring at 5-2. Mike Pritts went 2-3 with a two runs batted in to the lead the Bombers while Tim McMahon was 1-3 with a double for the Saints.

Ian Locke (6-2) took the win with seven innings of three hit ball, striking out seven. Nick Laettner (4-4) took the loss, scattering 11 hits and giving up five earned runs.

St. Lawrence jumped to the early lead in game two with a pair of runs in the first as Jon Dupont and Brandon Shankle had the RBI hits. Ithaca scored two in the third to tie the game. The game stayed locked at 2-2 until the eighth inning when the Bombers took the win with a single run off the bat of Mike Pritts. Dan Welch (3-1) had the win with the complete game effort, striking out 10 and allowing five hits. Tyler Thomas (4-4) took the hard-luck loss, giving up six hits and two earned runs over seven innings.

Phillipson (3-0) held the Saint bats at bay in the first game on Saturday against RIT, striking out two while not allowing a hit. Eric Hauser had three RBI with a bases loaded double for the Tigers. Jesse Emilo (3-3) threw four innings in the loss, giving up five earned runs on five hits.

In game two Stephen Drake's third inning homer, the second of his career and first of the season, gave St. Lawrence a 1-0 lead. However, the Tigers got single runs in the fourth and fifth to take the 2-1 lead. It was all RIT starter Jay Musialoski (1-0) needed as he gave up just two hits and struck out 10 in the win. Peter Rahmer (3-1) got his first loss of the season despite pitching well. He gave up just five hits and struck out five while allowing two earned runs.

St. Lawrence awaits an ECAC bid. The ECAC Upstate Tournament field will be announced on Tuesday, May 7.

BRZEK THROWS NO-HITTER AS RPI SWEEPS SAINTS

(April 27, 2002)-Sophomore Brian Brzek threw a no-hitter for Rensselaer in game two of a doubleheader sweep, 3-1 and 7-0, for the Engineers over St. Lawrence University in Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association baseball action on Saturday afternoon at Ogdensburg Free Academy. Rensselaer, ranked 11th in the latest American Baseball Coaches Association/Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division III Poll, improve to 24-8 with the sweep and are 7-1 in the UCAA.

In the second game, Brzek was in command throughout, striking out 13 on his way to the no-hitter. He struck out the side in both the sixth and seventh innings. St. Lawrence (18-10, 4-4 UCAA) had three baserunners in the contest thanks to a second inning walk and two fielding errors.

Flynn Cochran provided the offense with a sixth-inning grand slam, one of his two hits in the game. Rensselaer scored two in the top of the first on a single by Brian Marine, who was 3-4 with two RBI, and an error by the Saints. Marine drove in the Engineers seventh run with a single to left field in the top of the seventh.

Freshman righty Tyler Thomas took the loss, allowing seven runs, five earned, on seven hits in a complete game effort to fall to 4-3 on the season.

In game one, St. Lawrence struck first with a run in the second when RPI's pitcher, Max Miller, overthrew second base on a grounder back to the mound, allowing freshman Corey Swiniarski to score from second.

Rensselaer got on the board in the top of the fifth with a pair of unearned runs. One error allowed Matt Faraone to score on a double steal of second and third and another error on the next hit ball scored Brendan Witherell to give the Engineers a 2-1 lead. They added to the lead with a run in the seventh when Steven Palmer's sacrifice fly to center scored Travis Teeter to cap the scoring.

Max Miller took the win for Rensselaer, allowing just four hits and one unearned run while striking out seven. Sophomore Nick Laettner took the loss, striking out eight and walking five. He gave up eight hits and one earned run, falling to 4-3 on the season.

St. Lawrence is scheduled to take on Vassar Sunday, April 28, in a UCAA doubleheader at Ogdensburg Free Academy starting at 12:00 p.m.

TWO-OUT NINTH INNING RALLY LIFTS SAINTS

OVER HAMILTON, 8-7

(April 24, 2002)-Trailing 7-1 heading into the top of the ninth with just six hits in the game, the St. Lawrence University baseball team exploded for seven runs and seven hits, capped off by a game-winning two-run bomb over the left field fence by Brandon Shankle (left) to lift the Saints to an 8-7 win over Hamilton College. The Saints improve to 18-9 with the win while Hamilton falls to 7-19.

Hamilton had taken a 7-1 lead in the bottom of the eighth with four homeruns and brought in their ace reliever, Brent Lowinger, who led the team in earned run average coming into the game. After getting the first out on a strikeout, freshmen Corey Swiniarski and Jeff Silino hit back-to-back singles and put runners on the corners. Rookie Jon Klix hit into a fielder's choice, scoring Swiniarski, but sacrificing Silino at second and giving the Saints two outs and trailing 7-2.

However, junior Kevin Eberz hustled out a grounder to the shortstop, forcing a bad throw and an error. David Soucy, another freshmen, ripped a double into the left center field gap to score both runners, making it a 7-4 ballgame. Sophomore Dan Albrecht stepped to the plate and looked to be in trouble after taking a called strike and then missing with a big hack to make it a 0-2 count. After stepping out of the box to calm down, Albrecht hit a moon shot over the left center field fence, pulling the Saints to within one, 7-6.

Senior Jon Dupont kept the inning alive hustling out a grounder between short and third, beating the throw by a half step. The Saints hottest hitter with a 16-game hit streak stepped to the plate in Shankle. After taking the first pitch for a strike, Shankle hammered the next offering over the 30-foot net in left field, putting an exclamation point on the no-doubter with a bat toss as he gave St. Lawrence their first lead, 8-7.

Hamilton got all their runs from the long ball with Semmie Taylor hitting two homers and knocking in five runs. Jon Fehlman and Adam Lewkowicz had solo shots off of Saint freshman starter Peter Rahmer who allowed seven hits and six runs in 6 1/3 innings of work.

Soucy led the Saints with three RBI off the bench while Albrecht, Swiniarski and Shankle each had multi-hit games.

Sophomore Tim Bello earned his first win of the season in relief, throwing 1 2/3 allowing a solo home run and striking out one. Freshman Jesse Emilo came on in the ninth to hold the Continentals scoreless and earn his first save of the season. Lowinger took the loss, allowing nine hits and eight runs, just two earned, in a 1 2/3 innings of work. Hamilton starter James Harrison got a no-decision despite seven innings of good work where he gave up just four hits and struck out 10.

The Saints next game is scheduled for Saturday, April 27, as they take on Rensselaer in a UCAA match-up at Ogdensburg Free Academy with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

SWINIARSKI NAMED UCAA BASEBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

(April 23, 2002)-Corey Swiniarksi, a freshman outfielder on the St. Lawrence University baseball team, was named the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association Rookie of the Week on Tuesday afternoon.

Swiniarski hit .467 (7-15) in six games last week, hitting his first collegiate home run, a solo bomb against Union. He also recorded a double and four RBI. The rookie had a .600 on-base percentage, drawing three walks and getting hit by two pitches and he also three bases. For the season, he is fourth on the team with a .361 average and has driven in six runs and scored eight.

The Saints are 17-9 overall and are third in the UCAA with a 4-2 record. They are ranked sixth in the New York State Region in the latest American Baseball Coaches Association/Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division III Poll conducted on April 22. They travel to Hamilton for a non-conference tilt on Wednesday, April 24, with first pitch scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

SAINTS WIN SIX IN A ROW WITH A SWEEP OF SKIDMORE

(April 21, 2002)-The St. Lawrence University baseball team has now won season-high six consecutive games with a doubleheader-sweep, 6-1 and 11-8, of Skidmore on Sunday afternoon in Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association action in Saratoga Springs. The Saints are now 17-9 on the season and 4-2 in the UCAA while Skidmore falls to 10-20 and 1-7 in conference play.

Freshman Jesse Emilo improved to 3-2 with a complete-game effort in game one, giving up just four hits and one run while striking out seven. St. Lawrence used five Thoroughbred errors and six hit batsmen to tally six runs on just four hits. The Saints broke open a 1-1 tie with two runs in the sixth and three in the seventh to win, 6-1.

The Saints used their bats in game two to overcome five errors of their own, pounding out 14 hits and 11 runs. St. Lawrence jumped out to an early 4-1 lead after two innings. Skidmore closed it to 4-3 after three innings, but the Saints responded with seven runs in the next three innings to take command, 11-5. Skidmore scored three in the seventh but couldn't get any closer, ending the scoring at 11-8.

Freshman John Klix was 4-4 in the game with three runs scored, an RBI and two stolen bases. Sophomore slugger Dan Albrecht had a two-run homer in the first, his third of the season, while junior Kevin Eberz was 2-4 and drove in three. One of freshman Corey Swiniarski's two hits was a run scoring double.

Junior Mike Damann earned the win to improve to 2-0, allowing five runs in five full innings of work. Sophomore Tim Bello threw the last two innings, giving up three runs in the seventh, but still earned his second save of the season.

The Saints are scheduled to take on Rochester in a UCAA doubleheader make-up tomorrow afternoon at the Watertown Fairgrounds with first pitch slated for 4:00 p.m.

SAINT BATS STAY HOT IN SWEEP OF UNION

April 20, 2002-St. Lawrence continues to swing hot bats as they jolted Union pitching in a doubleheader sweep, 13-1 and 9-5, to improve to 15-9 on the season and even their Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association record to 2-2. After scoring just 11 runs in a four-game span, the Saint offense has scored 40 runs in their last four games, touching up Cazenovia for 18 runs in a doubleheader on Thursday and then notching 22 runs in two games against the Dutchmen (10-10, 2-4 UCAA).

St. Lawrence scored five runs in the first inning of game one to take early control. It was more than Saint sophomore starter Nick Laettner would need as he allowed just five hits and one run in a complete game performance to run his record to 4-2. The Saints pounded out 12 hits and took advantage of four Union errors, scoring single runs in the fourth and fifth before hanging a six on the scoreboard in the seventh inning to run away with it, 13-1.

Senior centerfielder Jon Dupont (above) hit his team-leading fourth home run in the game. Sophomore Dan Albrecht and Tim McMahon also tacked on homers.

A five-run second inning in the nightcap gave the Saints another comfortable lead. A triple by sophomore Brandon Shankle highlighted a three-run fourth inning. Union matched with three in the bottom and added two more in the fifth, but couldn't get any closer as the Saints held an 8-5 lead. Shankle's RBI single in the seventh capped the scoring at 9-5.

Freshman Jon Hollis earned the win with a complete-game six hit effort while classmate and battery-mate Jon Blumhagen was 3-3 at the plate.

The Saints face Skidmore tomorrow afternoon in an UCAA doubleheader starting at 12:00 p.m. before meeting Rochester in Watertown on Monday at 4:00 p.m. in a make-up doubleheader.

STRONG PITCHING AND REVITALIZED BATS LEAD SAINTS OVER CAZENOVIA

(April 18, 2002)-Freshman Tyler Thomas (left)and sophomore Peter Rahmer silenced the Cazenovia College bats while the St. Lawrence offense put up 18 runs in a doubleheader sweep of the Wildcats, 11-1 and 7-0, at Duffy Field in Watertown. The Saints offense had scored just 11 runs in their previous four games before they exploded for 26 hits in 63 at-bats (.413 average) in the sweep to improve to 13-9 on the season.

The Saints took an early lead in game one, scoring two in the first on a single to center by sophomore Brandon Shankle. They added another in the second when junior Kevin Eberz singled through the left side of the infield, driving in freshman John Klix with two outs.

Cazenovia scored in the bottom of the third with an unearned run, but it proved to be the only run the Saint pitching staff would give up on the day.

St. Lawrence answered the Cazenovia challenge with four runs in both the fifth and sixth innings, putting the game out of reach, 11-1. The biggest blow was a triple to center field wall by sophomore Dan Albrecht that scored two in the fifth.

Thomas earned his fourth win of the season, giving up one unearned run, six hits and striking out seven in six innings. Freshman Jon Hollis finished the game on the mound.

Eberz went 4-5 with two runs while Albrecht was 2-4 with three runs and three RBI. Shankle also had three RBI on 2-4 hitting and Jon Dupont was 1-3 while driving in two.

Rahmer, normally the Saints closer, started game two and picked up right where Thomas left off. The sophomore righty allowed only five hits and struck out four in five innings of work to improve to 3-0 and drop his team best earned run average to 0.56. Tim Bello faced the minimum in the final two innings to earn his first save of the 2002 season.

St. Lawrence busted open a 2-0 game with three runs in the fifth. The major blow came from the bat of Shankle who singled down the right field line to score two.

Shankle had six runs batted in on the day, collecting three hits in seven at-bats. Dupont and Albrecht each had three RBI.

The Saints start a busy weekend on Saturday with a conference doubleheader at Union. The Saints follow that up with a doubleheader on Sunday at Skidmore before taking on Rochester in a doubleheader make-up on Monday at the Watertown Fairgrounds.

SAINTS STRIKE FIRST BUT CAN'T HOLD

ON AGAINST CLARKSON

April 17, 2002-The St. Lawrence University baseball team dropped their third straight decision, 6-2, to Clarkson University in a non-conference contest between the North Country rivals on Wednesday afternoon at Snell Field in Potsdam. The Golden Knights sweep the regular season series with the win and improve to 19-9 while the Saints, who have been plagued by bad weather all spring, fall to 11-9.

The Saints took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second when junior Tim McMahon ripped a single into center field with runners on second and third to score two.

The Golden Knights answered with a run in the bottom of the inning on a Nate Markell grounder with bases loaded. Clarkson tied it in the third on a passed ball that allowed Matt Macauley, who was 2-3 with a double and two runs, to score.

Freshman Jesse Emilo settled down in fourth and held the Clarkson bats at-bay until the seventh. With two outs in the inning, a drag bunt single by Macauley looked harmless. However, a double by to the fence in right field off the bat of Brandon Barcomb drove in Macauley from first. Emilo hit a batter and then Chris Tarbox followed with a seeing-eye single through the right side to drive in Barcomb and chase the Saint rookie right-hander from the mound. The Golden Knights would get one more in the inning to take the 6-3 lead.

Clarkson added one in the eighth as Macaulay doubled in Markell. B. Barcomb had two doubles in the game and an RBI while Giovan Scialdone had three hits in four at-bats to go along with an RBI.

For the Saints, Tim McMahon had both runs batted in while going 1-4 at the plate.

Jesse Emilo took the loss, going 6 2/3 innings while allowing five runs, four earned, and eight hits. He walked five and struck out seven to even his record at 2-2. The Golden Knights used four pitchers on the mound with Andy Noonan earning the win to improve to 4-1 in three innings of work.

St. Lawrence continues a busy week as they travel to Watertown tomorrow to take on Cazenovia in a doubleheader starting at 4:00 p.m. The Saints then play doubleheaders at Union and Skidmore on Saturday and Sunday before making up their rain out against Rochester on Monday in Watertown.

SAINTS SWEPT BY CLARKSON

April 12, 2002-The St. Lawrence University baseball team, ranked sixth in the New York Region according to the ABCA/Collegiate Baseball Division III National Poll, dropped a pair of games, 11-2 and 5-0, to North Country and Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association rival Clarkson on Friday afternoon. Clarkson (14-8) is ranked fifth in the New York Region.

St. Lawrence took a 2-1 lead after one inning of play in the first game when sophomore Brandon Shankle ripped a single up the middle with the bases loaded, scoring two.

However, Clarkson six runs over the next three innings and 11 in the game while not giving up a run. The Golden Knights had help from the Saints as five errors led the six unearned runs.

Nick Laettner took the loss for the Saints, giving up eight runs, four earned, on five hits while striking out six. Senior outfielder Jon Dupont went 2-2 at the plate for St. Lawrence. J.J. Lorence earned the win for Clarkson, scattering five hits and striking out eight to up his record to 3-1. Chris Tarbox was 2-3 with a homer and three runs batted in.

A pair of freshman right-handers locked horns on the mound in game two as the Knights' Andy Noonan outlasted the Saints' Tyler Thomas. Thomas gave up just two earned runs and four hits while striking out eight in a complete game effort in a 5-0 loss. Noonan held the Saint offense at-bay the entire game, giving up just four hits, and striking out nine while walking only one to up his record to 3-1.

Offensively, Tim Barcomb did the work for the Knights, going 2-4 with three RBI. Brandon Shankle had a pair of hits for St. Lawrence in three at-bats.

With the losses, the Saints fall to 11-8 and 0-2 in the UCAA. The Saints continue the conference schedule against Rochester on Saturday, April 13, with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at Clarkson's Snell Field.

DAMANN AND RAHMER COMBINE FOR ONE-HITTER AS SAINTS DEFEAT PLATTSBURGH, 3-1

(April 10, 2002)-Junior Mike Damann (left) and sophomore Peter Rahmer combined to allow just one hit and one unearned run as the St. Lawrence University baseball team took a 3-1 decision from Plattsburgh at Clarkson's Snell Field on Wednesday afternoon. Damann took a no-hitter into the eighth inning before Jason Deshaies, a Massena native, hit a ground ball single through the middle with two outs.

Strong pitching from both teams dominated the game as the teams combined for just eight hits. Damann struck out nine and walked five while allowing just the one hit and one unearned run to earn his first decision of the season and run the Saints record to 11-6. Sean Ellott had the tough luck loss for Plattsburgh (1-2), giving up six hits and three unearned runs in six innings of work.

Plattsburgh got on the board first in the fifth inning as a pair of Saint errors led to an unearned run. A leadoff walk was followed by a throwing error from junior Kevin Eberz at second base, allowing Brand to score on the ground-rule extra base. A sac bunt followed by a pair of walks loaded the bases for the Cardinals. Damann got out of the jam, however, by striking out the next two batters and holding Plattsburgh to one run in the inning.

St. Lawrence took the lead in the bottom of the sixth with three unearned runs. Sophomore outfielder Dan Albrecht, the Saints leading hitter at .487, led the inning off with a double to the right field fence. A throwing error by Cardinal shortstop Dennis Lavin on senior Jon Dupont's groundball allowed Albrecht to score and put a runner on second for St. Lawrence. Dupont then scored when third baseman Chris White bobbled Brandon Shankle's grounder, making it a 2-1 game. After a walk and a popup, St. Lawrence tried a double-steal with runners on first and second, forcing the catcher to throw wide of third base, leading to the Saints third unearned run of the inning.

The three runs were more than Damann needed as he rolled into the eighth inning with a no-hitter. After getting the first two outs with a grounder and pop-up Deshaies hit a ball up the middle to earn the Cardinal's first hit. Sophomore closer Peter Rahmer came in to close and did the job, getting strikeouts for two of the last four outs to earn his second save of the season.

Eberz and Albrecht each had two hits in the game, Eberz in four at-bats and Albrecht in three. Albrecht had the only extra-base hit of the game.

The Saints take on North Country rival Clarkson on Friday afternoon at Snell field with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

EMILO NAMED THE UCAA ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

(April 9, 2002)-Jesse Emilo, a freshman right-hander on the St. Lawrence University baseball team, was named the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association Rookie of the Week for the week ending April 8. The Saints went 3-1 over the past weekend, splitting with Hartwick and sweeping Utica, to improve to 10-6 on the season, matching their win total from the 2001 season.

Emilo improved to 2-1 on the season with a complete game, four-hit effort against Hartwick in the Saints 2-1 win. He struck out eight in the game while walking just four to lower his earned run average to 2.25, third in the UCAA. Emilo leads the conference in strikeouts, averaging 14.1 per nine innings.

The Saints lead the conference with a team ERA of 3.86 and are second in the conference with a .625 winning percentage. Tyler Thomas, another freshman righty hurler for St. Lawrence, leads the league with a 1.29 ERA and is 3-1 on the hill.

Offensively, sophomore outfielder Dan Albrecht is second in the UCAA with a .472 bating average while senior centerfielder Jon Dupont, who also plays football, is fourth hitting .449. Dupont leads the Saints with three homeruns.

St. Lawrence's game against Plattsburgh scheduled for Tuesday, April 9, has been rescheduled for Wednesday, April 10, at 2:00 p.m. at Clarkson's Snell Field.

EMERY'S TIMELY HITTING LEADS SAINTS TO

SWEEP OF UTICA

(April 7, 2002)-The St. Lawrence University baseball team needed extra innings to gain a doubleheader sweep of Utica College on Saturday afternoon, winning 6-5 in the first game and 4-2 in game two. Nick Laettner and Tyler Thomas earned the wins, both throwing complete games, while Trent Emery's timely hitting led to three Saint runs.

Utica jumped on Laettner early in the first game, taking a 3-0 lead after two and a half innings of play. St. Lawrence fought back to tie the game in the bottom of the third as Jon Dupont, who was 3-4 in the game, and Stephen Drake had RBI singles.

Utica regained the lead in the fifth with a two-run single, jumping ahead 5-3.

For the second day in a row, the Saint bats came alive in the bottom of the seventh. Dan Albrecht, who was 2-3 in the game, led off with a single. After Dupont, flew out, Brandon Shankle drove in Albrecht with a double. Drake was hit by a pitch next before Trent Emery drove in the tying run with a single.

Laettner held the Pioneers in the eighth inning, and after flying out, Albrecht worked a walk to get on first. A single by Dupont sent him to third and then a walk to pinch hitter Jeff Silino loaded the bases. Drake lined out to shortstop setting the stage for Emery who laced a single through the infield, giving the Saints a 6-5 win.

Laettner scattered 12 hits and struck out seven while allowing five runs to earn the win and run his record to 3-1 on the season.

Thomas, a freshman, was the story of game two, giving up just four hits and two runs while striking out eight on the way to his third win of the season against just one loss. Shankle went two-for-three for with a double and scored two runs to lead the Saint offense to the 4-2 win. Dupont also had a double and an RBI in the game.

St. Lawrence is now 10-6 on the season, matching their win total from 2001. The Saints are scheduled to take on Plattsburgh at Clarkson on Tuesday, April 9, with the first pitch slated for 2:00 p.m.

SAINTS SPLIT WITH HARTWICK AT UTICA

(April 6, 2002)-St. Lawrence split a non-conference doubleheader with Hartwick at Utica College on Saturday afternoon, winning game won 2-1 before falling in the nightcap, 7-2. The Saints are now 8-6 on the season.

Jesse Emilo, 2-1 on the season, allowed just four hits and struck out eight to earn the complete game win while Jon Dupont went 2-4 and knocked in both Saint runs in game one. Kevin Eberz scored both St. Lawrence runs while picking up two hits in four at-bats.

Dan Albrecht scored both St. Lawrence runs in game two, but it wasn't enough as Hartwick tacked on three runs in the third inning, dropping Saint starter Li Richardson's record to 0-2. Brett Rottkamp silenced the Saints bats to pick up the win.

St. Lawrence is scheduled to play Utica College on Sunday, April 7, at 12:00 p.m. at the Watertown Fairgrounds.

THOMAS NAMED UCAA PITCHER OF THE WEEK

(April 2, 2002)-Freshman righthander Tyler Thomas, a pitcher on the St. Lawrence University baseball team, was named the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association Pitcher of the Week for the week ending April 1.

Thomas picked up his second win of the 2002 season with a seven-hit, complete-game effort against St. John Fisher in the back-end of a doubleheader on Saturday. Thomas struck out eight and allowed just one earned run as the Saints pounded out 14 hits in a 9-2 win over the Cardinals.

For the season, Thomas leads the conference in earned run average at 0.86, giving up just two earned runs in 21.0 innings. He is fourth in the conference in strikeouts as well, averaging 9.4 per nine innings. The rookie is 2-1 on the season.

The Saints, 7-5 this season, take on Oswego on Wednesday, April 3, with a game time set for 4:00 p.m. in Watertown.

SAINTS BASEBALL SWEEPS FISHER TO IMPROVE TO 7-5

March 30, 2002-Good pitching and hot bats gave the St. Lawrence University baseball team a double-header sweep of St. John Fisher, 8-3 and 9-2, on Saturday afternoon to improve the Saints record to 7-5. Nick Laettner and Tyler Thomas picked up wins on the mound while Jon Dupont led the offense with four runs batted while going 4-7 with a home run and two doubles in the series.

The Saints put away game one in the fifth inning with five runs, breaking up a 2-2 game. After getting two outs, the Saints scored five runs, highlighted by a double from Dupont and a three-run homer to right field by Trent Emery. The Saints tacked on another in the sixth inning to take an 8-2 lead.

However, the Cardinals (5-9) threatened in the third loading the bases with two outs and the score at 8-3. Peter Rahmer came in from the bullpen for the Saints and induced Nate Poliquin to line into a triple play. Poliquin ripped a ball to shortstop Jeff Silino who flipped it to Kevin Eberz at second and relayed it to Brandon Shankle at first to record the rare triple play.

Dan Albrecht went 2-2 in the game while Emery was 1-2 with three RBI and two runs scored. Laettner struck out six and scattered 10 hits in six innings of work to up his record to 2-1, giving up just one earned run.

In game two, St. Lawrence scored at least one run in the first six innings of the game while Thomas handled the Cardinal bats, striking out eight and giving up a single earned run for the complete game win. Dupont was three for four with three RBI, a double and a home run. Eberz scored two and went 2-5 with a double while first baseman Stephen Drake had two doubles a drove in one with a 2-4 performance. Blumhagen and Shankle also had multi hit games as the Saints pounded out 14 hits on their way to a 9-2 win. Jon Kingdeski took the loss, allowing five runs, two earned, in 2.2 innings.

The Saints next game is scheduled for Wednesday, April 3, as they take on Oswego in Watertown at 4:00 p.m.

BASEBALL RETURNS FROM FLORIDA TRIP AT 5-5

March 28, 2002-The St. Lawrence University baseball team posted a 5-5 mark during their spring break trip to the Gene Cusic Classic in Ft. Myers, Florida, preparing for the conference schedule in the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association.

Dan Albrecht led the Saints offense, which is averaging 5.7 runs per game, with a .389 average, nine runs batted in and a .778 slugging percentage. Jon Dupont is hitting .370 and leads the team with two home runs and three doubles.

On the mound, Peter Rahmer did not allow a run in 7.2 innings of work, registering a win out of the bullpen and throwing six innings to record his second win and run his record to 2-0. Nick Laettner and Tyler Thomas also pitched well for the Saints as each had complete game shutouts to go 1-1. Thomas allowed just one earned run in 14 innings of work while Laettner gave up two earned runs in 11 innings.

The Saints trip started on the wrong foot as they were swept by UMass-Boston, 16-9 and 10-1. Albrecht highlighted the doubleheader by going 3-5 with four RBI in the series. Jesse Emilo took the loss in game one as Umass-Boston exploded for seven run in the seventh inning. In game two, Anthony Forbes allowed the Saints just five hits in six innings of work while Saint starter Li Richardson allowed five runs in four innings to take the loss.

Thomas pitched a five-hit shutout the following day against Coe College, outdueling Kohawks' starter Tom Hauck to get the 1-0 win. Albrecht again provided the offensive heroics plating Kevin Eberz in the top of the first inning. Thomas struck out eight in the game to record his first collegiate win.

St. Lawrence fell in their next game against Suffolk, 5-3, but bounced back from that loss with a come-from-behind 7-6 win over Trinity (CT), scoring three runs in the top of the seventh inning. Dupont went 3-4 and scored three runs while Brandon Shankle had five RBI in a 2-3 performance at the plate. Trailing 6-4 after six innings, St. Lawrence scored three runs with two outs in the seventh, started by Dupont's single. A single by Albrecht followed and then Shankle came through with another single, plating Dupont and Albrecht to tie the game. After another single by Jon Blumhagen, Jeff Silino stepped up for the Saints five consecutive single, scoring Kris MacCabe who was pinch running for Shankle. Rahmer closed the door to earn the win and move the Saints to 2-3.

Trinity earned a split in the second game, taking a 9-3 win and handing Saint starter Mike Ferguson the loss.

St. Lawrence then blew out New England College in a doubleheader, outscoring them 23-0. Emilo earned the win in the first game giving up two hits in five innings of work and striking out nine as the Saints rolled to a 18-0 victory. Corey Swiniarski was three for four in the game while Dave Soucy and Shankle each had home runs for the Saints. Rahmer earned his second win in game two, 5-0, allowing just two hits and striking out nine in six innings. John Klix was 3-3 with two RBI and while Jesse Roshia was 2-2. Dupont had a home run in the game.

Amherst College, a perennial Northeastern power, handed the Saints a loss the following day, 4-1. Thomas took the loss despite pitching well, allowing just six hits in seven innings of work. Amherst pitcher Jeff Leduc tamed the hot bats of St. Lawrence, allowing just two hits in nine innings of work.

St. Lawrence finished the trip on a high note, bouncing back from the tough loss to take out Middlebury, 9-0. Laettner held the Panther bats quiet, scattering seven hits to get the complete game win and striking out seven. Dupont was 2-3 in the game with two RBI. Albrecht had 1-1 with three RBI in the game, two coming on a second inning triple.

2002 SEASON PREVIEW

The St. Lawrence University baseball team returns 17 letter winners from last year's squad- 11 position players and six pitchers. The team lost just four seniors to graduation; however, three of them were the core of the Saints pitching corps. Despite those losses, a group of young arms received much needed experience last season and a green lineup now has a year of college level play under their belts.

The Saints have game tested players at every position with the exception of shortstop. Although the team has a roster that features nine freshman, 11 sophomores, six juniors and just one senior, the majority of that roster has had college playing experience. The team will be improved at every position and should push themselves into the top half of the UCAA standings this season.

Junior Kevin Eberz will anchor the infield at second base this season. Eberz hit .315 in 108 at bats last season, but more importantly, he had a .422 on-base percentage as the Saints leadoff hitter, drawing 20 walks. Joining him in the infield will be sophomore Brandon Shankle at third base and junior Stephen Drake at first. Shankle led the team with a .316 average last year and was second on the team with 18 runs batted in. Drake led the team in putouts with 130 and hit .247, led the team with three triples and also had a home run.

Freshman Jeff Silino looks to be the frontrunner at the shortstop position. Freshmen John Klix will also compete for time in the infield.

Sophomore Trent Emery led the team with 24 RBI last season and will start behind the plate for St. Lawrence. Freshmen Jon Blumhagen and Dave Soucy can catch and fill in at another defensive spot. Sophomore Devin Dobrowolsky is also competing for time behind the plate.

Senior Jon Dupont, junior Jesse Roshia and sophomore Dan Albrecht return to roam the Saint outfield. Dupont hit .267 last season showing good power finishing the season with two home runs and driving in 17. Roshia had the highest average of the three, hitting .274 in 73 at bats last season while Albrecht hit .260 with 14 runs batted in. Junior Tim McMahon, who hit .305 and had seven doubles last year, is scheduled to come off the disabled list in midseason and should return to the lineup as an outfielder or a designated hitter. Freshman Kris MacCabe and sophomores T.J. Flint and Corey Swiniarski should see some playing time as well.

On the mound, sophomore Nick Laettner has the size, 6-5, 220, to be a dominant ace for St. Lawrence. He had a 6.44 ERA and improved in every outing he had last season, striking out 29 batters in 36.1 innings. Junior Mike Ferguson will be the Saints number-two. He is returning from limited playing time last season when he suffered through nagging injuries through the majority of the season. Li Richardson, a sophomore, had nine innings of action in 2001, striking out eight and walking just one.

Several players are competing for the fourth and fifth spots in the rotation with freshmen Jesse Emilio, Tyler Thomas and junior Mike Damann are all vying for the spots.

In the bullpen, freshmen John Hollis and Bob Calli along with sophomore Tim Bello will serve as middle relief with sophomore Peter Rahmer coming in as the closer. Rahmer took on the role as the team's closer midway through the 2001 season getting one save. Some off-season changes to his delivery will give the Saints a reliable closer in the spring.

The schedule opens with the Gene Cusic Classic in Ft. Myers, Florida, where the Saints will play 10 games in seven days. Their northern schedule consists of UCAA powers Rensselaer and Rochester as well as non-conference opponents and perennial national powers Cortland and Ithaca. The Saints again will play the NCAA maximum 36-game schedule in 2002.