LORENCE LEADS KNIGHTS PAST ST. JOHN FISHER

May 4, 2005

Syracuse, NY – Senior JJ Lorence (Liverpool, NY) went 4-for-4 with three RBIs and two outfield assists as the Clarkson University Baseball team got back on the winning track with a 8-7 non-league victory over St. John Fisher Wednesday afternoon at Alliance Bank Stadium.

The Golden Knights ended a two-game losing streak and improved to 17-11 overall while the Cardinals fell to 18-15 on the season. Clarkson returns to action this weekend when they host three consecutive doubleheaders, closing out the Liberty League schedule against Union College on Friday before playing two non-league twinbills against Ithaca College and RIT.

The Golden Knights struck in the first inning after a one-out double from Lorence. Brandon Barcomb (Cadyville, NY) moved Lorence over to third with a ground out and clean up hitter TJ Brinkman (Troy, NY) followed with a line drive up the middle to score Lorence for a 1-0 Clarkson lead.

The Cardinals produced two runs in the bottom of the second inning when Nick Bergman delivered a two-run double that went off the left field wall to score Chad King and Tim Schmitt from second and first base.

The Golden Knights rallied back in the top of the fifth inning when Lorence’s double drove home Mike Onisk (Baldwinsville, NY). The potential go-ahead run was cut down at the plate when Rob Cowin (Albany, NY) was tagged out attempting to score from first base on the base hit.

Schmitt reclaimed the lead for St. John Fisher in the bottom of the sixth inning with a single through the right side that scored Andy Campbell. Campbell reached base on a one-out walk, made it to second on a balk and moved up to third when he advanced on a fly out to right field.

Clarkson went back ahead in the top of the seventh inning as Lorence drove home Onisk from second base on a full-count run-and-hit single between the third baseman and shortstop. After a hit batsmen which loaded the bases, Cowin scored on a passed ball to give the Knights a 4-3 advantage.

St. John Fisher threatened in the bottom of the seventh inning with runners on second and third with no one out, but a pop fly and an outfield assist by Lorence from right field squashed the rally and the Cardinals were held scoreless in their half of the inning.

Clarkson seemingly put the game out of reach in the top of the eighth inning with a four runs on just two hits. Cowin drove in a run with a bases loaded single, Lorence forced in a run when he was hit by a pitch and Brinkman produced two RBI with a single to center field to make the score 8-3. However, the Cardinals came back with four runs in the final two innings and had the tying run on second base before Jay Josef (Liverpool, NY) retired the final hitter.

Sophomore David Potter (Crown Point, NY) earned the victory, his first of the season, for the Golden Knights and Josef picked up his first save by pitching the final three innings.

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