April 30, 2004 

MIDDLEBURY, VT - The Amherst College baseball team used a six-run seventh inning and an outstanding pitching performance by rookie hurler Brian Donahue to post a crucial 9-2 win at NESCAC West Division foe Middlebury College on Friday. The Jeffs (13-14/5-5 NESCAC West) can clinch a spot in the four-team NESCAC Postseason Championship Tournament with a doubleheader split at Middlebury (11-14/4-6 NESCAC West) on Saturday. 

Donahue surrendered just three hits and no earned runs in eight strong innings, upping his record to 5-1 with a much-needed clutch pitching performance. He also struck out five and overcame four walks. 

Amherst cranked out 13 hits and benefited from four Middlebury errors. Sophomore rightfielder Andrew Green made his first start of the season and responded with a trio of singles, two RBIs and a stolen base. Fellow sophomore Dave Levinson added a double, a single and scored a run, while senior catcher Tom Sullivan broke out of a recent slump with a pair of singles and an RBI. Sophomore shortstop Zach Schonberger, who homered twice at Keene St. on Tuesday and once at Brandeis on Wednesday, remained hot, singling twice, driving in a run and scoring another. 

Amherst sophomore Brant Ford pitched one inning and was perfect in relief of Donahue. 

Saturday's doubleheader at Middlebury kicks off at noon. Middlebury can turn the tables on Amherst and grab its own postseason berth with a twinbill sweep. 

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