Game 1 Box / Game 2 Box
TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team scored 31 runs on 27 hits to sweep a Liberty League doubleheader from Skidmore College, 12-9 and 19-11, at Robison Field. The Red Hawks improve to 23-8 overall and 12-4 in the league while the Thoroughbreds fall to 13-18 and 7-9, including four losses to RPI over the past two days.
Rensselaer scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning of the first game to overcome a 9-6 deficit and go on to the win. With one out the Red Hawks loaded the bases on two singles and a walk. Pinch hitter Shane Griffin (Hudson, NY/Hudson) then plated two runs with a double to left centerfield to pull the home team to within a run. Following a strikeout, Sean Wilkes (Troy, NY/Catholic Central) singled in the tying run and Jason Pollard (Hudson, NY/Hudson) followed with a triple for an 11-9 lead. A single by Ken Carroll (Shelton, CT/Fairfield Prep) scored Pollard for the final margin.
Skidmore took the lead with a nine-run fourth inning, highlighted by a three-run home run to right field by senior Mike Salamonoe (Albany, NY/Newton South). RPI built a six-run lead through three innings with three runs in the first inning and three more in the third. The third inning featured a three-run home run by freshman Patrick Reardon (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute).
Sophomore Andrew Novick (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay) earned the win and junior Tim Klein (Westwood, NJ/St. Joseph Regional) got the save – his third in the last three games. Skidmore starter Tom Gruber (Cape Elizabeth, ME/Cape Elizabeth) suffered the loss.
The nightcap saw Skidmore open a 5-0 lead after two innings and an 8-5 bulge after 3.5 innings but the Red Hawks scored three in the third, ten in the sixth and one in the seventh for the victory – their ninth in the last ten games.
Six players had multiple hits for RPI, including Adam Lasek (Waterford, NY/Waterford), who was 3 for 3, including a double and a home run, with two runs and six runs batted in. Wilkes and Carroll also had three hits. Freshman Andrew Mondo (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa), who pitched 4.2 innings of relief, earned the win
The Thoroughbreds were led offensively by Rob Hutchison (Waterville, NY/Trinity Pawling), who wsa 3 for 4, including a double and a home run, with two runs and two RBI. Two others also had multiple hits. Freshman Matt Pisani (Winchester, MA/Winchester) suffered the loss.
Rensselaer is back on the field on Tuesday when it hosts Plattsburgh St. in a non-league game at Robison Field (4:30pm). Skidmore hosts league foe Union in a doubleheader next Saturday (12pm).
