Hamilton College split a non-conference doubleheader with Keuka College at Twin Lakes Park in Sarasota, Fla., on March 24.
Dan Hood '08 lined a single to left that scored Gideon Clark '09 for the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning as Hamilton (4-6 overall) took the opener, 4-3. Keuka (1-2) came back to edge the Continentals, 2-1, in the nightcap.
Hood finished with two hits, including a double, and drove in two runs in Game 1. Ryan Calabrese '09 doubled and ended up with two hits, and Clark collected two hits and scored two runs. Joe Buicko '11 added a two-base hit. Jakob Saidman '09 relieved starter Bryden Considine '08 in the fifth inning and tossed three perfect innings of relief for Saidman's first victory at Hamilton. Saidman whiffed two batters.
The Storm grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second inning and added two runs in the fourth. The Continentals responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame and tied the score with another run in the fifth. Clark led off the seventh inning with a single, Jack Maloney '08 walked and Tom Monfiletto '08 singled to load the bases with nobody out for Hood.
Max Foster '10 pitched well for Hamilton in Game 2, but suffered his first loss this year. Foster struck out eight and walked four as he pitched all six innings. He allowed four hits and one earned run. Foster surrendered just four earned runs in 15 innings during the Florida trip.
Both teams did all their damage in the third inning. The Continentals took a 1-0 lead in the top of the inning. Maloney hit a one-out single and advanced to second on a base hit by Clark. Maloney was forced out at third base on a ground ball by Michael Matt '11, but the third baseman threw wildly to first in an attempt to get Matt and Clark came all the way around to score. Keuka came back with two runs in the bottom of the inning and that was it.
Hamilton travels to Skidmore College for another non-conference twinbill on Sunday, March 30. The first pitch of the opener is scheduled for noon.
