Bates 2B Denis Hogan '08 went 3-for-4 at the plate in Game 1. (Scott Linscott photo)

BRUNSWICK, Maine -- The Bowdoin College baseball team swept Bates College in a doubleheader at Pickard Field on Saturday afternoon, 8-7 and 7-5. The Polar Bears (15-12, 7-3 NESCAC) are just one win away from clinching a bid in the NESCAC Tournament. Bates' losing skid hits five games as the Bobcats fall to 3-17 (1-10) this season. The teams will play the third game of their NESCAC Eastern Division series on Sunday afternoon at noon in Lewiston.

Bowdoin rallied to stun Bates in game one, scoring three times in their last at-bat to claim victory. The Bobcats exploded for five runs in the first inning, chasing Polar Bear starter Joe Pace after just two-thirds of an inning. Junior Rob Patton (Darien, Conn.) delivered a two-run single and junior Alex Egelson (Fairfield, Conn.) a two-run double to spark the rally. Bowdoin replied with four runs in the bottom of the frame, as the Polar Bears loaded the bases and John Lawrie delivered a bases-clearing double to close the gap to a single run. The teams traded runs in the fifth inning, and the Bobcats added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning on a single by junior Denis Hogan (Franklin, Mass.), giving the visitors a 7-5 lead heading into Bowdoin's final at-bat.

Joe Berte rapped an RBI single to plate Marc Dallaire with one out, closing the lead to 7-6. With two outs, Bowdoin had runners on second and third as pinch-hitter Jason Koperniak stepped to the plate. Koperniak ripped a hit into the hole between second and third, where junior Brian Mahoney (Sudbury, Mass.) made a great play to stop the ball from leaving the infield. His throw was not in time, however, as Greg Racioppe came home with the tying run. After Lawrie walked, Reid Auger whistled a hit to Mahoney's direction, again, and the Bates shortstop made another nice stop, but Lawrie beat his throw to the bag, allowing the winning run to score. Joe Berte finished the day 3-3 with two RBI, while Bates was led by a 3-4 effort from Hogan.

In game two, Berte and Lawrie continued their offensive attack, both earning three hits as the Polar Bears took a 7-5 victory. Bowdoin jumped out to a 5-0 lead thanks to a four-run fourth inning. Auger delivered the big blow on a two-run double as starter Tyler Turgeon cruised through the first four frames. In the fifth, Bates touched Turgeon for three runs to close the lead to 5-3. But Bowdoin relievers Carter Butland and Tyler Turgeon closed the door in the final two innings to seal the win for the Polar Bears. Egelson had three hits in the loss for Bates, while sophomore Larry Hinkle (Arlington, Va.) took the loss for the Bobcats.

-- Bowdoin Sports Information

BOX SCORE: Bowdoin 8, Bates 7 (Game 1)

BOX SCORE: Bowdoin 7, Bates 5 (Game 2)