Potsdam, NY - With four runs in the top of the seventh, the Clarkson University Baseball team won the opener of its doubleheader against Skidmore, but a similar rally from the Thoroughbreds and a walk-off hit in the ninth provided a split for the two teams Saturday afternoon at Jack Phillips Stadium.

Clarkson won the first game, 5-3, while Skidmore claimed the nightcap 6-5. The Golden Knights moved to 11-10 overall on the season and 5-7 in conference games, while the Thoroughbreds pushed their mark to 14-7 and 7-5. Clarkson returns to action on Wednesday with a nine-inning affair against Plattsburgh State. Next weekend, the team hosts the University of Rochester in another four-game Liberty League tilt.

For the third straight game, Skidmore struck for a run in the first inning as Matty Tatkow doubled down the left field line to score Geoff Green, who had led of the inning with a single and moved into scoring position on a balk and a wild pitch. Skidmore would gain two more runs in the fifth inning as a bloop single from Zach Rudman was just out of reach of centerfielder Jarrod Mattingly (Philadelphia, NY), giving the Thoroughbreds a 3-0 advantage.

Skidmore starter Jordan Keysor was virtually unhittable for the first five innings, getting ahead of hitters with a first-pitch strike 18 times in the first 20 batters. However, in the sixth inning Clarkson opened up on the junior as David Kinney (Mexico, NY) singled sharply to right and moved to third on a Matt Jenack (Massena, NY) singled to left-center. A hard hit sacrifice fly from Jerry Coleman (Potsdam, NY) plated Kinney with Clarkson's first run. In the seventh, the Knights scored four runs to take the lead and the game from Skidmore. With two outs, John Coleman (Potsdam, NY) beat out an infield single and Mattingly doubled to left-center. After an intentional pass to Kinney loaded the bases, David Wixted (Ballston Lake, NY) doubled down the left field line to plate two, and Kinney raced home on a bobble by the left fielder, giving Clarkson a 4-3 edge. The bobble wouldn't matter anyway, as Jenack singled to center to score Wixted from second base for Clarkson's final run.

Kinney ended up with the victory on the mound, scattering nine hits over seven innings, and also went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored. Wixted and Jenack also had two hits each. For Skidmore, Jordan Keysor went seven innings and struck out eight, giving up 10 hits and two walks. Geoff Green had three hits and scored twice in the opener for the Thoroughbreds.

In the second game, Skidmore opened up with two runs in the bottom of the first inning with three straight hits after two outs were made, but the Knights responded with two in the top of the next inning with Bobby Derico (Watervliet, NY) singling home a run and Tim Beninati (Schoharie, NY) driving in a run with a groundout. Clarkson added two more in the fourth as one run came home on a groundout double-play, and another scored on a John Coleman single to center. Clarkson picked up another run in the seventh on an error by the Skidmore shortstop, making in 5-2 through six and a half innings.

Skidmore scored three times in the bottom of the seventh with the benefit of just one hit as the bases were loaded on three straight walks. A pop up and a sacrifice fly added a run and two outs, but Alex Barber drove in a pair with a single to center to tie the score 5-5. The Thoroughbreds got the game-winner in the ninth as the leadoff hitter reached on an error and a pinch-runner moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Following an intentional walk and a strikeout, Brian Lowry was sent up as a pinch-hitter and bounced a ball through the right side to plate Jeff Spindell, who slid under a high throw for the game-winning run.

Nick Petrella earned the win for Skidmore, pitching five-plus innings of relief and allowing just a single unearned run on three hits with no walks and a strikeout. Jerry Coleman got a no-decision for his effort, as he allowed just the two runs in the first of his six innings of work. For Clarkson, Justin Rebhun (East Greenbush, NY) was 3-for-5 and Derico also had three hits in four at bats. Barber was 3-for-5 with four RBIs for Skidmore.