Game 1 Box Score / Game 2 Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Senior pitcher Joe Zongol (Flower Mound, TX/Southington) threw a complete game shutout to lead the 23rd-ranked Rensselaer baseball team to a 2-0 victory over Clarkson on Saturday at Robison Field. The Red Hawks then defeated the Golden Knights, 9-4, in game two of the doubleheader. With the victory, RPI improves to 9-1 overall, including 2-0 in Liberty League play. Clarkson falls to 5-6 on the season and 0-2 in the league.

Zongol allowed just three hits and four walks, while striking out seven to pick up the shutout victory in game one. His pitching performance was aided by a one -, two-run single by senior Ken Carroll (Shelton, CT/Fairfield Prep.) in the 4th inning, which provided the only scoring of the game.

The inning began with a walk to sophomore Patrick Reardon (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute). After a strikeout, senior second baseman Shane Griffin (Hudson, NY/Hudson) doubled to put runners on second and third with one away. Carroll then came through with the one-out, two-RBI base hit to give the Red Hawks a 2-0 edge.

Carroll finished 2 for 3 at the plate, with two runs batted in. Junior centerfielder Sean Wilkes (Troy, NY/Catholic High) went 2 for 3 from the leadoff spot, while senior rightfielder Dan Valentine (Goshen, CT/Avon Old Farms) also added a pair of hits in three at bats.

Game two saw junior Andy Opperman (Oneida, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) earn the win in relief of senior starter Tim Klein (Westwood, NJ/St. Joseph Regional).  Klein went 4.0 innings, allowing two runs on five hits, while striking out three Golden Knights. He left the game with a 7-2 lead in the 5th inning.  Opperman pitched the next two innings for the victory.

The Red Hawks scored in each of the first four innings, including two in the 3rd and three in the 4th. Sophomore Brett Peplowski (Albany, NY/Colonie) got Clarkson on the board in the top of the 4th with a solo homerun over the rightfield fence. The Golden Knights added another run in the inning, but did not close to within three runs the rest of the way.

Valentine ended up 3 for 5 with two doubles, a run scored and three runs batted in. Sophomore Camden Mamigonian (Dover, NH/Dover) went 3 for 5 as well, with two doubles, a run scored and two RBI.

Peplowski finished 1 for 3 with a home run, a run scored and an RBI for Clarkson. Junior Matt Holiday (Syracuse, NY/Bishop Ludden) ended up 2 for 4 with a run scored.

The Red Hawks and Golden Knights return to action on Sunday afternoon, with another doubleheader at Robison Field (12pm).