Game 1 Box Score / Game 2 Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Junior Jason Pollard (Hudson, NY/Hudson) went 7 for 10 with six runs, six runs batted in and a stolen base to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team to a non-league doubleheader sweep of Hamilton College at Robison Field. Rensselaer won the first game 5-3 and the nightcap 20-0 to improve to 9-6. The Continentals are now 5-9.

Pollard had three hits, two runs and two RBI and sophomore Joe Zongol (Flower Mound, TX/Southington) pitched 5.2 innings to lead the Red Hawks in the opener.

Rensselaer scored two runs in each of the first two innings, in part to a single, double, two runs and an RBI by Pollard, for a 4-0 lead after two. Hamilton pulled to within 4-1 in the fourth inning but the Red Hawks got that run right back in their half. The Continentals added single runs in the next two innings before senior Rich Mundy (Norwood, NY/Norwood-Norfolk) closed it for RPI for the save.

In addition to Pollard, three other players had one hit for the Red Hawks, including junior Adam Lasek (Waterford, NY/Waterford), who had a triple and a run scored. On the mound, Zongol allowed three runs, all earned, on five hits with two walks while striking out six. Mundy pitched the final 1.1 innings, allowing one hit with two strikeouts.

For Hamilton, senior Jamie Matthews (Brookline, MA/Brookline) went the distance, allowing five earned runs on six hits with three walks. He struck out one. Offensively, junior Patrick Suarez (Wappingers Falls, NY/Roy C. Ketchum) had two hits, including a double, one run and an RBI.

In the nightcap, RPI knocked out 20 runs on 18 hits and four pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout as the Red Hawks won their fourth straight game. Pollard paced the offense four hits, including a double, four runs and four runs batted in in six at bats. Senior Joe Ihnatolya (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) also had four hits, including two doubles, with two runs scored and a run batted in. Senior Mike Passante (Highland, NY/Highland) added a three-run home run – the first of his career - two runs and three RBI. He also walked four times to tie the school record for bases on balls in a career (101).

Starter Luke Calzone (Bethel, CT/Bethel) improved to 3-0 by allowing just two hits with six strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work.

The Continentals saw their starter, Bryden Considine (Cabot, VT/Cabot), take the loss after allowing seven runs, including five earned, on three hits and a walk in 1.2 innings. Offensively, four different players had one hit apiece.

Rensselaer returns to action on Tuesday when its hosts Castleton State at 4pm at Robison Field. Hamilton is in action again on Wednesday when it hosts Utica beginning at 4pm.