ALBANY, N.Y.- The College of Saint Rose baseball team, after starting the season with 18 games on the road, swept a doubleheader versus the Bloomfield Bears in its home opening series at Bob Bellizzi Field on Friday afternoon. 

The Golden Knights won game one 3-2 behind a strong pitching performance by junior Chase Carroll and saw their offense come alive in game two in route to an 8-4 win. Saint Rose, 10-10, moves to .500 on the season with the back-to-back wins. 

Carroll remained unbeaten on the year, moving to 4-0 with the victory. He struck out nine Bears hitters over 5.1 innings while giving up just two runs on four hits. Senior Pryce Wasula came in to retire the two batters he faced via strikeout to end the sixth inning and freshman Matthew Tiberia earned his fourth save of the year with a 1-2-3 seventh inning, also striking out two. 

Saint Rose did all their damage in the opening frame, scoring three off Bloomfield starter Albert Bobadilla. It was senior catcher Louis Gendron who got the Golden Knights on the board with a two-run double ripped down the third baseline, driving in seniors Vince Venditti and Jack McDonald for the opening runs of the ball game. Saint Rose would load the bases and freshman Collin Casey drew a walk to bring in Gendron. 

In game two of the twin bill, the Golden Knights fell behind early, as Bloomfield first basemen Tyree Bradley a pair of two-run home runs one in the first inning and another in the third. 

Saint Rose would put up three runs in the bottom of the third to tie things up at 4-for-4. Freshman second basemen Kenyon Motley got the rally started with a lead-off and he would come around to score after back-to-back singles by Ryan McGee and Vince Venditti. Senior outfielder Tony Socci drove in McGee and Venditti with a two-run single to left field. Socci finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBI. Motley drew walks and scored twice. 

The Golden Knights followed up their big third inning with three more runs in the fourth to extend their lead to 7-4. Freshman third basemen Jack Griffin provided the eigth and final run of the game for Saint Rose in exciting fashion, rounding the bases for the inside-the-park home run. Griffin finished 1-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI. 

Senior Chris Palmer earned the win for Saint Rose, his first of the season, as he went 4.0 innings and struck out five in the finale. Stephen Orlando came on in relief and struck out 4.0 over his two innings of work. Senior Greg Allard put the finishing touches on the Golden Knights series sweep, spinning at scoreless seventh inning. 

Looking ahead, the Golden Knights are back in action on Tuesday for a non-conference double dip at Southern New Hampshire beginning at 3:00 pm.

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