BENNINGTON, Vt - The Southern Vermont College baseball team came from behind in a non-conference game against SUNY Cobleskill Thursday to win 12-5 at Epstein Field. SVC long ball was a big factor in the decision as sophomore captain Adam Northup (Richmond, R.I.) crushed two bombs over the fence going 2-for-2 with a walk, a sac fly while knocking in six RBI.
The Fighting Tigers jumped ahead early with two runs in the first when second baseman Matt Greene single and third baseman Matt Whelehan tripled sending Greene home. A batter later first baseman Tom Wiener singled in Whelehan to make it 2-0 in Cobleskill's favor after one inning.
In the bottom of the second the Mountaineer bats began to warm up with a single from freshman catcher Eric Wells (Athens, Pa.). Northup stepped up to the plate with one out and crushed a two run homer over the right field fence to tie it up at two-a-piece.
After a scoreless third for both squads the Fighting Tigers got two more runs on an RBI double from Wiener and an error by the SVC catcher trying to throw out Wiener at third to make it 4-2 SUNY Cobleskill. In the bottom of the fourth Northup hit a sac fly to the centerfielder that scored sophomore captain Dan Cook (Watervliet, N.Y.) who had singled to start off the inning.
The Mountaineers tallied five more runs in the fifth with an RBI double by Cook, a sacrifice bunt by right fielder Tim Johnson (Bernardsville, N.J.), and a monster three run shot to left field from Northup. It was 8-4 heading into the sixth giving SVC some breathing room.
SVC was not done as they scored two more runs in the sixth and the seventh off a two RBI single by Cook and a two run homer by Johnson. The Fighting Tigers could only muster up one more run making it 12-5 in nine innings.
Freshman pitcher Will Warner (Waterford, Conn.) evened out his record to 3-3 on the season as he picked up the win. Warner pitched seven innings striking out three and only walking one. Relief pitcher Tim Irizarry got loss for SUNY Cobleskill as they fell to 6-18 on the season overall.
The Mountaineers improved to 10-22 overall giving them ten wins for the first time since 1988 when they won 17 games.
Dave Gage (Gloversville, N.Y.), Brett Pawlak (Shelton, Conn.), and Northup each had two hits for SVC. Cook went 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored. Wells went 1-for-2 walked three times and scored three runs for the Mountaineers that are heading into a nail-biter of a doubleheader this weekend when they host NECC foe Becker College.
They are currently tired with Becker in the Conference and if they sweep the Hawks will be sitting in position to host the NECC Playoffs at Epstein Field May 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Game one starts at 12:00 p.m.