Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Behind five hits, five runs and four RBI from its fourth and fifth hitters, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team overcame an early 5-0 deficit and went on to defeat Plattsburgh State, 12-10 in non-conference action at Robison Field. The Red Hawks improve to 24-8 overall while the Cardinals fall to 25-12.

Junior Shane Griffin (Hudson, NY/Hudson), the clean-up hitter, went 3 for 4 with three runs scored and an RBI while sophomore Jim Devine (Castleton, NY/Columbia), went 2 for 4 with two home runs, two runs scored and three RBI.

Plattsburgh State led 5-0 through two innings and held a 6-4 advantage before Rensselaer mounted a comeback in the bottom of the sixth. After a single by Griffin, Devine sent a two-run shot over the right field wall to tie things up at 6-6. A walk and three hit batsmen brought up sophomore Sean Wilkes (Troy, NY/Catholic Central), who singled to make it 9-6 heading into the seventh inning.

A three-run home run by Cardinals pinch-hitter Matt Burns (Ellenville, NY/Ellenville) in the top of the eighth closed the gap to 10-9, but Rensselaer added two runs in the bottom of the inning to hold on for the win.

In addition to Griffin and Devine, the Red Hawks saw Wilkes finish 2 for 5 with three runs batted in. Senior Ken Carroll (Shelton, CT/Fairfield Prep.), who pitched 5.2 innings while allowing four runs on six hits with four strikeouts for the win, went 1 for 2 with two RBI. Freshman John Dreimiller (Ticonderoga, NY/Ticonderoga) picked up his first career save after allowing just one hit in an inning of relief.

For Plattsburgh State, sophomore Matt Kelley (Mechanicville, NY/Hartwick) was 3 for 5 with two runs scored and two RBI while senior Matt Dahlin (Cohoes, NY/Clinton CC) went 2 for 4 with three runs and an RBI. Sophomore Kevin Gent (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs) took the loss, allowing four runs on one hit with two walks.

RPI travels to Vassar for a doubleheader on Saturday (1pm) and closes out the regular season with a twinbill against the Brewers on Sunday at Robison Field (12pm). Sunday’s games can be heard live on 91.5 FM, WRPI, and online at www.wrpi.org.  Plattsburgh State wraps up its regular season Wednesday at Castleton State (3:30pm).