Potsdam, NY - In the last collegiate home game of the 11 seniors' career for the Clarkson University Baseball team, numerous records fell as the Golden Knights swept RIT in a doubleheader 17-5 and 9-4 on graduation day Sunday at Snell Field.
The Golden Knights reached 20 wins for the sixth consecutive season and are now 21-13 on the season. RIT moved to 14-14. Clarkson returns to action next weekend when they will participate in the Liberty League Championships to see which team will earn the automatic qualifier for the NCAA Tournament.
Numerous records fell for the Golden Knights on Sunday, highlighted by senior shortstop Brandon Barcomb (Cadyville, NY). In the opener, Barcomb produced three hits to pass former Clarkson standout Matt Macaulay for the most career hits (172). In the second game, on his eighth triple of the season and second hit of the game, Barcomb tied the record for most hits in a single campaign (51) and overtook his older brother, Tim Barcomb, for the single-season mark for runs batted in (43). Junior catcher Rob Cowin (Albany, NY) also made history for Clarkson on Sunday when he scored his 44th run in the second game, passing Willie Gould for most runs in a season. Gould tallied 43 in the 2000 season.
In the first game, the Golden Knights produced three runs in the second and seven more in the third to take a 10-2 lead through three innings. Clarkson didn’t stop scoring and added three more in the fourth and four more in the sixth. Stefan Casey (Waterbury, VT) highlighted the seven-run third with a two-run home run to left field, his third of the season. Barcomb went 3-for-5 and drove in three runs while JJ Lorence (Liverpool, NY) kept his hot hitting streak alive as he went 2-for-5 with four runs driven in. Casey finished 3-for-3 while both Mike Onisk (Baldwinsville, NY) and Brian Theilemann (Troy, NY) each picked up two hits.
Onisk earned the victory for Clarkson, his first action on the mound this season for the Golden Knights, pitching a complete game and allowing three runs and striking out four.
Scott Schneider went 3-for-3 and Colin Bradley and Adam Gerentine each went 3-for-4 to lead a 13-hit attack by the Tigers.
In the second contest, RIT jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but Clarkson came back with four in the bottom of the inning. The Tigers responded with a run in the third and fourth innings, but again the Golden Knights were able to come back with offense of their own, scoring five times in the bottom of the fourth inning for a 9-3 advantage.
Barcomb went 2-for-3 with three runs driven in while John Smith (Hermon, NY) continued his late-season break out with a 3-for-4 performance. Sophomore TJ Brinkman (Troy, NY) also went 2-for-3.
Kyle Seymour (Saranac, NY) earned his first win of the season by pitching five strong innings. Evan Weaver (Lafayette, NY) and Jay Josef (Liverpool, NY) each pitched scoreless innings of relief for the Golden Knights.
Matt Singer, Scott Schneider, John Byrne and Jason Socola all went 2-for-4 in the second game for the Tigers with Schneider hitting a home run.
