Game 1 Box Score / Game 2 Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Freshman third baseman Jim Devine (Castleton, NY/Columbia) cracked a three-run homerun in the fourth inning to propel the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team to a 7-5 victory in the second game of a Liberty League doubleheader with the University of Rochester. RPI won the first game, 12-7 to sweep the twinbill at Robison Field. With the wins, RPI moves into a second place tie with St. Lawrence and is now 18-8 overall with an 8-4 Liberty League mark. Rochester falls to 11-16 overall but remains in first place in the league with a 10-6 mark.

In game two, sophomore first baseman JJ Vanderstyne (Victor, NY/Victor) and freshman Dan Brien (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool), the designated hitter each had an RBI single and the Yellowjackets capitalized on two Rensselaer errors to take a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Senior Steve Foley (Irondequoit, NY/Irondequoit) kept the Red Hawks’ bats at bay, taking a 5-2 lead into the sixth inning.

Senior Joe Ihnatolya (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) started the RPI flurry in the top of the sixth inning with his RBI double setting the stage for Devine, whose three-run shot gave the Red Hawks a 6-5 lead. Senior Charles Yarnold (Budd Lake, NJ/Mount Olive) picked up the win for the Rensselaer, allowing seven hits and five runs (one earned), while striking out eight and walking none through nine innings to improve to 3-1 on the season.

Rochester was paced offensively by Brien, who was 2 for 4 with a double and one run batted in. Sophomore outfielder Dave Kloc (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon) was also 2 for 4 with a double and one run. Foley suffered the loss and is now 1-5.

The Red Hawks scored in each of the seven innings in the opening game and held on for the 12-7 win. With RPI holding a commanding 9-2 lead in the fifth inning, the Rochester offense came alive, posting five runs on six hits to pull within two (9-7), including RBI doubles from junior outfielder Frank Infurna (Rochester, NY/Webster Schroeder) and Ed Kahovec (Victor, NY/Victor), a sophomore. Leading 10-7 in the top of the seventh inning, Ihnatolya sealed the victory for the Red Hawks, delivering a clutch two-run, two-out single for the 12-7 final margin.

RPI starter Luke Calzone (Bethel, CT/Bethel) kept his perfect record intact with the win, improving to 6-0 overall. He allowed 11 hits and seven runs, all earned while striking out three and walking just one batter.

For Rochester, Infurna went 3 for 3 with two runs and two runs batted in and sophomore starter John Fishback suffered the loss. He went 4.1 innings, allowing nine hits and nine runs while striking out one.

Rensselaer returns to action on Wednesday in a non-conference game at MCLA (4pm).  Rochester hosts Cortland State on Tuesday (4pm).