Dartmouth baseball, behind the run production of leaders Brian Nickerson '00 and James Little '00, wasted no time gaining five runs in the first inning off Columbia right hander Ryan Kiernan. Nickerson would knock his fourth homer of the season, a three run shot to left and go on to bat 2-for-3 with a run scored in game one. Little and Dan Becker '02 also knocked in runs in the first.
Though left-handed starter Jeff Dutremble '01 struggled a bit to stay ahead of batters in the count, issuing three walks in four and two-thirds innings pitched, he was able to tame the Lions permitting just two earned runs.
Dartmouth tacked on five more runs in the bottom frame when Josh Cushman '03 reached on an error, Becker doubled to right, and Chris Miranda '01 roped a line drive into center to score the two base runners.
Mike Levy '01 followed with a walk, and Little doubled to center to score Miranda. After Nickerson also drew a walk, Mike Mileusnic '03 in the DH slot in game one, singled to left to record two RBIs.
Jon Miller '00 looked stellar on the hill getting the job done in the sixth and seventh frames to record the save.
"Jon Miller has done a fantastic job for me, he's a situational guy and it was a good matchup for him,"said Coach Bob Whalen. Miller also played a key role and record his second save of the day in game two.
As the sky grew dark, tall, sleeveless righty John Velosky '02 took the hill amid threats of snow flurries to face the Columbia bats in game two.
Dartmouth once again took the early lead, bringing three across the plate in each of the first two innings.
In the second, Cushman reached on an error and was scored by a Levy single. Levy advanced to second on an error by the left fielder before Little doubled again to bring him in. Little moved to third and then home on successive wild pitches to score what would account for the winning run.
Velosky struggled through a four run second throwing 57 pitches in his first to innings of work before settling down to go eight strong innings permitting only one more run.
"We're on a role, we just need to keep up the momentum,"said third baseman Nickerson.
And that's just what Dartmouth will hope to do as they face UVM and St. Anselm this week. More importantly, they will face a tough Brown team for a four game series in Rhode Island this weekend.
Dartmouth faces the University of Vermont tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. at Red Rolfe Field.
