TROY, N.Y. -- Tim Beninati recorded two hits and scored three runs to lead Clarkson to a 17-1 win over Rochester in the first game of the 2015 Liberty League Baseball Tournament, held at Rensselaer Polyechnic Insitute's Robison Field. The 17 runs scored by the Golden Knights ties a tournament single-game record, while the margin of victory is the second highest in tournament history. Clarkson, which now stands at 24-7 on the season, will advance to play the winner of Thursday's second game between RPI and RIT. Rochester (26-15) will play the loser of Game Two on Friday at 9:30 a.m.

The Golden Knights got on the board in the bottom of the third inning, as Beninati led off with a single to centerfield, before coming home on a Greg Jasek double. Matt Jenack also scored on Jasek's double, after getting on base with a hit up the middle. Jasek, who advanced to third on an error, scored Clarkson's third run of the frame on a wild pitch. The Golden Knights added five runs to their total in the fifth inning. John Coleman got on board after being hit by a pitch, and made it to third on a Jenack double to left. Clarkson loaded the bases after Rochester intentionally walked Jasek, and John Coleman crossed home on a single by Will Coleman. After a bases loaded strikeout gave the Golden Knights two outs, Nolan Driscoll smacked a grand slam over the fence in right centerfield, pushing the Clarkson lead to 8-0.

The Golden Knights scored multiple runs in each of the next three innings. Paul Ludden hit a two-run homer down the left field line in the bottom of the sixth, bringing home Beninati, who drew a walk to lead off the inning. After Rochester got on the board in the top of the seventh on a solo home run by Brendan Garry, Clarkson followed with a five runs in the bottom of the inning to push the lead to 15-1. The Golden Knights got a single from Will Coleman, Chris Miller knocked a double down the right field line, and Driscoll drew a walk to load the bases. Coleman and Miller scored on a single up the middle by Dom Pirro, before Driscoll came home on an RBI single by Ludden. Beninati scored his third run of the day on an error, and Ludden rounded out the scoring in the inning, crossing home on an RBI single through the left side by Jasek.

Clarkson added two more runs in the eighth to close out the scoring. Coleman drove in Driscoll with a single, before Jasek drew a bases-loaded walk to bring Pirro home. 

Will Coleman earned the win on the mound for the Golden Knights, going seven innings with four strikeouts, while allowing no walks, and scattering four hits. Jamie Terry saw two innings in relief for Clarkson, fanning two. Evan Janifer took the loss for Rochester, allowing nine hits and eight runs, while striking out three over four and two-thirds innings of work. Michael Lee fanned one in an inning and a third, while Luke Meyerson and John Ghyzel each saw an inning of action.