Box Score

TROY, N.Y. -- Kajganich recorded four hits, including a home run, to lead Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) to a 9-5 win over Clarkson on the second day of the Liberty League Baseball Championship, hosted by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Robison Field. With the victory, RIT (23-13) advances to Saturday's championship game to face the winner of Friday's third game between RPI and Clarkson (24-8).

The Tigers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. S Flanagan doubled to left center and advanced to third on a single by C Bolorin, later coming home on a throwing error by the Clarkson catcher. The Golden Knights tied the game in the bottom of the third on an RBI double by G Jasek that scored Paul Ludden, who singled up the middle to start the inning. The Tigers bounced right back in the top of the fourth, as Phil Sammon, who reached on a fielding error, came home on an RBI single by Mike Myers to put RIT back on top, 2-1.

RIT added another run in the sixth on an RBI single by Zack Zabel that scored Myers, who recorded a double down the left field line earlier in the inning. Kajanich recorded his second hit of the day and eventually came home on a Will Gorman single, putting the Tigers on top, 4-1, in the top of the seventh. Kajganich was then responsible for two runs in the eighth, as he drove a homer over the right field fence, scoring Zabel on the play. Clarkson cut its deficit to 6-4 in the bottom of the inning, as C Miller knocked a two-run double down the right field line, and Will Coleman came home on a single by Dom Pirro.  

However, the Tigers would respond with three runs in the top half of the ninth. Gorman led the frame off with a double, coming home on a single by Myers, who later came home on an RBI hit by Kajganich. The Myers single also scored T Hogan, who drew a walk during his at bat. Clarkson attemped one last comeback in the final half-inning, but only managed to get one run across. John Coleman tripled to lead off the inning, and scored on a groundout by Jenack. The Golden Knights got one more runner aboard, but RIT closer Brandon Cohall got the final Clarkson batter down swinging to end the game. 

Ethan Humbert picked up the win on the mound for RIT, going seven innings to improve to 5-2 on the season. Ted Wilson took the loss for Clarkson to drop to 2-2. 

Follow Live Stats for the RPI-Clarkson matchup, starting at 4:30, or listen on WRPI, to see which team advances to face the Tigers in the championship game on Saturday at 11a.m.