Baseball | 4/9/2013 8:33:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - The RIT baseball pitching staff continues to excel, allowing just two runs over 18 innings to record a doubleheader sweep at Liberty League foe Skidmore College (6-12, 3-7 Liberty League) on Tuesday afternoon, winning both games by identical 4-1 scores. Game two went a season-high 11 innings, as RIT (9-6, 4-4 Liberty League) ran its winning streak to three games.

RIT's pitching staff has been tremendous over the last six games, allowing just 10 runs over that stretch. In game one, freshman hurler Brandon Cohall (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas) became the latest RIT pitcher to twirl a gem, allowing just four hits and a run in six innings. He carried a shutout into the sixth inning to record his first collegiate win. Seth Noreman (Old Bethpage, NY/Old Bethpage-JFK) came on in relief to close out the game in the seventh inning, recording his second save of the year.

Eight of RIT's nine starters had a hit in the opener, with Brian Brazee (Auburn, NY/Auburn) recording a pair of singles. Tyler Ramotar (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) scored a pair of runs, while Taylor Hogan (Rochester, NY/Brighton) drove in a pair of key runs with a seventh inning single that provided insurance for the Tigers.

RIT took a quick lead on a run scoring groundout by Skip Flanagan (Framingham, MA/Bishop Feehan) in the third inning, and a RBI single by Jaren Bell (Rochester, NY/Brighton) in the fourth inning. RIT could have broken the game open on a handful of occasions, but left the bases loaded twice and stranded 11 runners overall.

In game two, five RIT hurlers combined to allow just eight hits over 11 innings and did not allow a run over the final 10 frames. Conor Herlihy (Geneseo, NY/Geneseo) started and allowed one run on two hits over the first three innings. Rich Sammon (Ridgefield, CT/Ridgefield) pitched two scoreless innings, allowing just a hit, followed by Chris Dickinson (Honeoye Falls, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima), who allowed two hits over 3 1/3 innings, and was lifted in the ninth after an error, stolen base, and error which allowed the runner to move to third. Tyler Leichtenberger (Warren, PA/Warren Area) stranded the potential winning run in the ninth by getting a pair of ground outs. Brian Sheridan (Trumansburg, NY/Trumansburg) picked up his first collegiate win, throwing a pair of scoreless innings with three strikeouts.

Brazee gave RIT a 1-0 lead in the first inning, driving in Ronnie Canestro (East Amherst, NY/Nichols) with a single. Canestro doubled with one out. Skidmore came right back in the bottom half of the inning as Leejay Pollachi walked, stole second, and went to third on a sacrifice. Erik Watkins singled in Pollachi to tie the game.

For the next 10 innings, the RIT and Skidmore pitchers matched zeroes on the scoreboard. Skidmore starter Dan Brown, who went 6 1/3 strong innings, retired 12 straight Tigers during one stretch.

In the top of the 11th inning, RIT would finally break through, scoring three times. Canestro would reach on an error, but be erased as Flanagan would trade places, reaching on a fielder's choice. Freshman Brett Kajganich (North Royalton, OH/Holy Name) would drive in the game-winning run, doubling to right field, scoring Flanagan. Walt Roman (Spencerport, NY/Spencerport) would single in Kajganich, and move to third on consecutive singles by CJ Bolorin (Rochester, NY/Rush-Henrietta) and Matt Holtby (Honeoye Falls, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima). Roman would then score on a wild pitch to make it 4-1.

Sheridan would close the door in the bottom half of the 11th inning to give RIT the sweep, which was just the second for the Tigers in Liberty League play. RIT also swept a pair of games from Clarkson on April 20, 2012.

Roman and Brazee had two hits apiece in game two for the Tigers.

The Tigers were scheduled to play Keuka on Thursday, but the game has been postponed due to the threat of incelement weather. RIT returns to action with a pair of doubleheaders at Rensselaer on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday's doubleheader starts at 1 p.m., while Sunday's games begin at 12 p.m.