Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team scored ten runs in the second inning on its way to defeating SUNY New Paltz, 24-6, in a non-league game at Robison Field. RPI, which has now won three games in a row and ten of its last 11, improves to 15-7. New Paltz falls to 14-16.

After taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning off an RBI single by senior leftfielder Michael Passante (Highland, NY/Highland), Rensselaer exploded for ten runs on ten hits in the bottom of the second. Among the Red Hawks hits were a two-run, two-out home run by freshman Jim Devine (Castleton, NY/Columbia), followed by a solo shot to leftfield by junior Adam Lasek (Waterford, NY/Waterford).

New Paltz scored four runs through the third and fourth innings to pull the score to 11-4, including a solo home run from catcher Josh Gutes (Hauppauge, NY), but could not contain the Red Hawks’ offense, which scored 13 runs over the final four innings, including a six-run outburst in the eighth inning.

In addition to his single in the first, Passante had three doubles with three runs, five runs batted in and two stolen bases. Junior Jason Pollard (Hudson, NY/Hudson), who played both right field and catcher, had two triples and a double with four runs and three RBI, while Lasek finished 2 for 3 with a double, two runs and four RBI.

Junior Brian Napier (Cohoes, NY/Cohoes) picked up his first win of the season, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out two batters in one inning.

For New Paltz, sophomore Jeff Stith (Selden, NY) went 2 for 5 while junior John DeKams (Kings Park, NY), the Hawks starting pitcher, allowed 11 hits and 11 runs (7 earned) in 1.2 innings. He also had a hit and a run batted in at the plate.

Rensselaer returns to action this weekend, hosting Liberty League rival Rochester for a pair of doubleheaders at Robison Field on Saturday (1pm) and Sunday (12pm). New Paltz hosts Baruch and league rival SUNY IT on Friday (1pm) and Saturday (12pm).