Burlington, Vt. ? Mike Tirri hit a three-run homer and four other Great Danes drove in at least two runs as the UAlbany baseball team rallied from five runs down to complete a 10-8 come-from-behind victory over Vermont in the first game of an America East Conference doubleheader at Centennial Field on Saturday, April 18. The Catamounts won the nightcap, 6-3, to salvage the split.

            After Vermont (9-20, AE 2-4) scored three runs in the first two innings of game one courtesy of a home run by Matt Duffy and a single by Mark Micowski, UAlbany rallied to tie the score at three in the top of the third. Dave West was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in the first run. Brendan Rowland then belted a sacrifice fly on the next play to score Sean Donovan, and Ryan Gugel followed up with a single to center which plated Gary Pitcheralle.

            However, the Catamounts regained the lead by scoring four runs in the third and another in the fourth. An error on the second play of the third frame eventually led to four unearned runs on a fielder's choice and three RBI singles hit by Brad Currier, Dave Soltis and Micowski.

            UAlbany rallied once again to knot the score at eight by plating five runs with two outs on the scoreboard in the fifth. Gugel singled and Kyle Crean doubled to start the comeback. Tirri then clubbed a three-run homer to right to cap the rally and tie up the score for the second time.

            After Sean Gregory pitched a scoreless fifth inning, the Great Danes took their first lead by scoring twice in the sixth. West hit into a fielder's choice which scored Donovan, and Rowland belted a RBI single on the next play. Gregory kept the Catamounts at bay for two more frames, which allowed UAlbany to hold on for the come-from-behind win.

            Josh Willimott, who started the game for the Great Danes, gave up nine hits and eight runs (four earned) in three innings of work. Jeff Kaier pitched a scoreless fourth, and Gregory improved to 4-2 with the victory after hurling three shutout innings to close out the contest. He struck out five and surrendered only one hit. Vermont's Joe Serafin was tagged with the loss and fell to 2-5. In 5.1 innings of work, he surrendered nine hits, ten runs which were all earned and five walks. Leif Sorenson pitched the last 1.2 innings, giving up two hits.

            In game two, the Great Danes scored a run in the top of the first when Rowland came home on a wild pitch. However, the Catamounts pushed two runs across in the bottom half of the same inning. Micowski led off with a home run to right, and Justin Milo crossed home plate as the result of an error in the outfield.

            The see-saw battle continued in the early innings, as UAlbany scored two times in the third to regain a one-run lead. Gugel and West each had RBI singles during the rally. Vermont then came back to tie the score at three in the bottom of the third on a single by Duffy, and the club took the lead for good by plating three more in the fourth. Ethan Paquette's home run put the Catamounts ahead for good before the squad added two insurance runs on errors.

            UAlbany's Dave Kubiak, who pitched 6.2 innings, suffered the loss and dropped to 1-7 this spring. He surrendered seven hits, six runs (four earned) and issued two walks while fanning seven batters. Cory Warrings pitched the final 1.1 innings in relief, allowing three hits and recording two strikeouts. Vermont's Keith Rakus improved to 3-3 with the victory. He gave up three hits, three runs (two earned) and issued six walks while striking out three. Greg Lutton pitched 2.1 scoreless innings to close out the game and pick up his first save.

            UAlbany (13-20, AE 6-4) and Vermont will complete the four-game series on Sunday, April 19 with another doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.

-agate-

UAlbany                                    003       052       0          10         11         2

Vermont                                                000       000       0          8          12         0

            UAlbany: Josh Willimott, Jeff Kaier (4), Sean Gregory (5) and Ryan Gugel.

            Vermont: Joe Serafin, Leif Sorenson (6) and Jeff Nolet.

UAlbany (13-20, AE 6-4)              102       000       000       3          4          3

Vermont (9-20 AE 2-4)                201       300       00x       6          10         1

            UAlbany: Dave Kubiak, Cory Warrings (7) and Ralph Keppler.

            Vermont: Keith Rakus, Greg Lutton (7) and Jeff Nolet.

Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
Albany.............. 003 052 0 - 10 11  2
Vermont............. 214 100 0 -  8 12  0
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Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Albany.............. 102 000 000 -  3  4  3
Vermont............. 201 300 00X -  6 10  1
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