University of Albany Baseball Splits America East Conference Doubleheader with Vermont - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Burlington, Vt. – Right fielder Brendan Rowland went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a stolen base to lead UAlbany to a 9-4 game two win over Vermont in America East Conference baseball action on Sunday afternoon at Centennial Field. The Catamounts took the win in game one, 4-0.

Both teams scored single runs in the first inning of game two. UAlbany struck first as freshman Mike Tirri drew a bases-loaded walk to send Sean Donovan home. Donovan was walked to lead off the frame and advanced on back-to-back fielder’s choice plays. Corey Moylan scored Vermont’s lone run in the inning, knocking out a triple before crossing home on a fielder’s choice.

The Great Danes took a 2-1 lead in the fifth as Rowland hit an RBI-double to right center, scoring Gary Pitcheralle, who led off the frame with a single and stole second. Rowland scored another run for UAlbany in the seventh on a double by Ryan Gugel, who later came around to cross home on an RBI single by Dave West.

Vermont responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Ethan Paquette led off the frame with a single up the middle and advanced to second when Dave Soltis drew a walk off UAlbany pitcher Zach Kraham. Mark Micowski was the first Catamount to face reliever Sean Gregory, and hit a triple into centerfield, sending both base runners home.

UAlbany added a single run in the top of the eighth. The Great Danes loaded the bases, with Ralph Keppler reaching on a fielder’s choice before Donovan and Rowland drew consecutive walks from Vermont reliever Leif Sorenson. UAlbany kept the bases loaded with two outs and Keppler scored a run on a Catamount fielding error. Vermont was able to work out of the inning, getting Gugel out at second on a fielder’s choice by West. Matt Duffy scored a single unearned run for the Catamounts in the bottom of the frame, crossing home on a bases-loaded groundout by Paquette.

UAlbany added four additional runs in the top of the ninth to take an 9-4 lead. Tirri led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kyle Crean. Tirri scored the Great Danes’ first run of the inning as he was driven home on a double by Pete Eichner. Keppler reached first on a Vermont fielding error which also allowed Eichner to score the team’s second run of the frame. With two outs, Pitcheralle knocked a single into center, scoring Eichner, and came home himself on a Rowland single through the left side. Vermont’s Owen Ozanich induced a groundout by Gugel to end the UAlbany rally.

The Great Danes’ Alexander Beaulieu entered the game in the ninth to close out the game for UAlbany. He struck out the first two batters faced before issuing a walk to Micowski. Beaulieu then got Moylan to ground out to short to seal the doubleheader split for UAlbany (14-21, AE 7-5).

Vermont (10-21, AE 3-5) scored first in game one, as Micowski drove a solo homer over the right field fence in the Catamounts first at bat. Vermont added two more runs in the second, with an RBI single by Micowski sending right fielder Moylan home. Brad Currier, who reached on a fielder’s choice bunt, scored later in the inning on a UAlbany throwing error on a pickoff attempt.

Micowski accounted for the Catamounts’ fourth run of the day when he was driven home by Justin Milo in the fourth inning. Vermont’s Justin Albert sealed the win for the Catamounts in the top of the seventh, striking out the first two UAlbany batters faced an inducing a flyout from the third. Albert struck out eight in his complete-game performance, allowing just two hits and issuing one walk.

Ryan Gugel and Mike Tirri each had hits for the Great Danes, while freshman right hander Austin Chase took the loss on the mound. Chase, who dropped to 3-4 on the season, struck out one opposing batter over his six innings of work.


UAlbany 000 000 0 - 0 2 3
Vermont 120 100 x - 4 5 0

UAlbany: Austin Chase and Ryan Gugel.
Vermont: Justin Albert and Mike McCarthy.



UAlbany (14-21, AE 7-5) 100 010 214 - 9 12 1
Vermont (10-21, AE 3-5) 100 000 210 - 4 6 3

UAlbany: Zach Kraham, Sean Gregory (7), Alexander Beaulieu and Ralph Keppler.
Vermont: Justin Albert, Harry Glynne (8), Leif Sorenson (8), Owen Ozanich (9) and Mike McCarthy