NEWARK, Del. -- Bates baseball split a Saturday doubleheader with St. Lawrence University at Bob Hannah Stadium on the campus of the University of Delaware, closing the day with a 13–6 win to earn the series victory. After the Saints took the opener 7–4, the Bobcats answered with a seven-run fifth inning in the nightcap and steady relief pitching to finish the weekend with a 2-1 mark.

GAME ONE
St. Lawrence (1-2) used a four-run second inning to seize control and held off Bates baseball for a 7–4 win in the opening game of Saturday's twin-bill.

Bates struck first in the top of the first, as LF Gibby Sullivan (2-for-3) delivered a two-run single after a double steal by CF Keagan Ryan and 2B Joe Yoxall put runners in scoring position. The Bobcats added to the lead an inning later when SS John Federico singled home DH Brady Thompson to make it 3–0.

The Saints answered in the bottom of the second, capitalizing on an error and a three-run double from 1B John Gannon to move in front, 4–3. St. Lawrence extended the margin in the third on an RBI single by LF Matt Davis, then added two more runs in the fifth to push the lead to three.

Bates pulled within a run in the fourth when Yoxall lined an RBI single to scorer Luke Yoon, who had doubled as a pinch hitter, but the Bobcats were held scoreless the rest of the way.

Noah Clausen (1-0) earned the win out of the bullpen for the Saints (1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER). Jack Laprade worked the final three innings to lock down the save (3.0 IP, 3 BB, 2K).

Diego Sarabia (0-1) took the loss for Bates (3.0 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K).

GAME TWO
The Bobcats (2-1) responded with a decisive 13–6 victory in the second game, using a balanced offensive attack and 4.2 scoreless innings of relief to secure the series win.

St. Lawrence jumped out early, scoring once in the first and erupting for five runs in the third to build a 6–0 advantage. Bates answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning, sparked by the first collegiate home run by Thompson (2-for-2, 4 RBI), a three-run shot, that cut the deficit to 6–4.

Bates pulled even in the fourth as Sullivan (2-for-3, 3 R, 2 RBI) tripled home Ryan (2-for-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI) before 1B David Swift (3-for-3, 2 2B, 4 RBI) followed with an RBI single to tie the game. The Bobcats then took control in the fifth, sending 11 batters to the plate and scoring seven runs on six hits to stretch the lead to the eventual final score of 13-6.

On the mound, Theo Zacharia (1-0) earned the win with four innings of relief, retiring all 12 batters he faced and striking out two. Ezra Pate closed the game with two-thirds of an inning to finish off the Saints.

The garnet and white will return to the diamond next Saturday in Annandale-On-Hudson, N.Y. vs. Vassar College (9 a.m.) and host-Bard College (noon).