Thoroughbreds use spring break to sharpen competitive edge

Women’s lacrosse rallied in the second half but came up just short in a 7-5 loss against Utica College. Reigning Liberty League women’s lacrosse Rookie of the Week Tyler Phillips ’17 recorded a natural hat trick in the second half, cutting the Skidmore deficit to two, but the Pioneers held on for the win. Phillips netted four goals for the second consecutive game and Peggy Healy ’15 chipped in a goal. The Thoroughbreds (1-1) play a pair of games in Orlando, Fla., this week, facing Dickinson College Monday, at 3 p.m. Monday, March 10, and tangling with Connecticut College at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 11.

Baseball opened its 2014 campaign splitting a pair of extra-inning contests against Baruch College. Catcher Dan Miller ’15 drove in the game-winning run with a walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth in the team’s first contest. Miller went 4-5 with five RBI and Justin Willig ’15 picked up the win in relief. In the second game, Isaac Forman ’14 pitched eight strong innings, allowing one run on four hits in a 2-1 loss in 10 innings. The Thoroughbreds returned to action Sunday with two tough losses against Gettysburg College. Alex Pavlock ’14 led Skidmore at the plate, going a combined 3-5 in the two games. In the second game, Marco Baratta ’16 went 1-3, producing an RBI triple, and Erik Watkins ’14 was 1-3 with an RBI. The Thoroughbreds (1-3) play five more games before hosting Vassar College in a Liberty League double-header at noon Sunday, March 22.

Men’s lacrosse was knocked off by Williams College, 9-5, in a non-conference matchup. Kevin Mulvey ’16 recorded his third straight multi-point game for the Thoroughbreds (0-3) with two goals and an assist. Seth Berger ’14 added a goal and an assist and Henry Thomsett ’16 and Quinn Hawkins ’14 both tallied, while Matt Diaco ’14 turned away 11 shots in goal. The team takes on Bates College at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 11, at Brown University.

Women’s tennis suffered setbacks against two the top teams in country, falling 7-2 at No. 19 Trinity College and dropping a 9-0 match against No. 1 Williams College. Melissa Hirsch ’14 and Zoe Valella ’15 combined for an 8-3 win at number-three doubles and Caroline Hobbs ’16 was a 6-2, 7-56 winner at number-six singles against Trinity College. The losses snapped a six-game winning streak for the Thoroughbreds (6-2). The team hosts St. Lawrence in a Liberty League match-up at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 23.

Men’s tennis was edged by Bowdoin College, 7-2, Sunday evening at Pomona College. Miles Ransom ’15 and Gabe Steerman ’14 were winners at number-three doubles and Alec Hoblitzell ’15 picked up a win at number-three singles. The Thoroughbreds (3-2) will look to rebound against Pomona College at 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 11.

Softball opened play at the Rebel Spring Games in Winter Haven, Fla., dropping games against Simpson College and Defiance College. Abby Shea ’15 and Lauren Gorstein ’17 paced the Skidmore offense in the opening games, both recording an RBI and going a combined 3-6 at the plate. The Thoroughbreds, who will play eight more games at the Rebel Spring games, resume play at 1 p.m. Monday, March 10, taking on the College of Mount St. Joseph. ~ By Dan St. Jacques