SARATOGA SPRINGS -- When things go bad, they go really bad.

For the Glens Falls Golden Eagles baseball team, nothing is working right now, especially at the plate.

The Saratoga Phillies will not be confused with the 1927 Yankees anytime soon either, but right now they're doing enough offensively to get by.

The Phillies used a Chris Matesich RBI triple in the bottom of the fifth, and a second straight complete-game effort from pitcher Michael Schwimmer to defeat the Golden Eagles, 2-1, Wednesday night at East Side Rec.

The triumph, Saratoga's second straight over Glens Falls this season, lifted the Phillies' record to 5-5, while Glens Falls fell to 1-8.

"All we need is one guy to come up with one clutch hit and everybody will get going and relax," Golden Eagles coach John Mayotte said. "But until that happens, everyone is anxious and pressing."

Saratoga was feeling that way as well after two straight losses, but Wednesday the Phillies rode the efficent arm of Schwimmer, who pitches for the University of Virginia.

The righthander gave up just one run last week and against Glens Falls. Schwimmer threw just 92 pitches and didn't walk a batter while striking out five.

"I just got ahead of guys and threw strikes; when you're facing these guys early in the season, you don't want to make it easier for them," Schwimmer said. "I felt really comfortable out there and the defense was great behind me."

Glens Falls starter O.J. DeChristofano was terrific also, but was touched up for the go-ahead run in the fifth.

With the score tied at 1, Fuller Smith drew a one-out walk for the Phillies. Matesich, from Southern Mississippi, then drove a 1-0 pitch down the third-base line and into the never-ending left field corner. By the time Eagles left fielder Ryan Hill caught up to the ball, Smith had scored.

"Once we got the lead again, I was like, 'OK, that's all I needed," Schwimmer said.

Schwimmer was able to work himself out of two minor jams in the late innings, allowing a leadoff double in the sixth to Josh Burt, but getting the next three batters out easily.

Then in the eighth, Mike Falasca hit a one-out double to get the tying run in scoring position. But Schwimmer needed just two more pitches to escape damage, inducing a pop-out from Burt and a foul out from Ryan Saltzgaber.

For Glens Falls, it was another frustrating night, and the news off the field hasn't been great either. Last year's MVP David Williams is still out with injury, and pitcher Mike Takashima, expected to be one of the team's best hurlers, has left the team with an arm injury.

The Phillies haven't had any time to pity their rivals; they're in the midst of a stretch of nine road games out of 10.

"We really needed this one because we're not home again until Tuesday," head coach John Fitzgerald said. "We got outstanding pitching and just enough hitting, and great defense tonight."

Adam Cronk hit a solo homer for the other Eagles run.

The Golden Eagles are back in action tonight, playing host to Plattsburgh at East Field, while Saratoga will travel to Amsterdam to play the Mohawks.





GLENS FALLS SARATOGA

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Saltzgaber ss 4 0 0 0 Smith cf 3 1 0 0

Hagey 2b 4 0 0 0 Matesich ss 4 0 1 1

Ferguson 1b 4 0 1 0 Kliman c 3 0 0 0

Clark rf 4 0 0 0 Cronk 1b 4 1 1 1

Clausen cf 3 1 1 0 Baxter dh 4 0 0 0

Hill lf 3 0 1 1 Merrell rf 3 0 1 0

Konstanty 3b 3 0 0 0 Corvino lf 0 0 0 0

Falasca dh/p 3 0 1 0 Horner 2b 3 0 0 0

Burt c 3 0 1 0 Thielemann 3b 2 0 0 0

DeChristofano p 0 0 0 0 Schwimmer p 0 0 0 0

Totals 31 1 5 1 Totals 26 2 3 2



Glens Falls 000 010 000 -- 1 5 0

Saratoga 000 110 000 -- 2 3 1

E -- Horner. LOB -- Glens Falls , Saratoga . 2B -- Hill, Burt, Falasca. 3B -- Matesich. HR -- Cronk. SB -- Merrell.

IP H R ER BB SO

Glens Falls

DeChristofano 6 3 2 2 5 9

Falasca 2 0 0 0 0 2



Saratoga

Schwimmer 9 5 1 1 0 5

HBP -- Thielemann (by DeChristofano) . T -- 1:58. A -- 200 (est).