Box Score
TROY, N.Y. – The ninth-ranked Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team got six shutout innings from senior right-hander Ken Carroll (Shelton, CT/Fairfield Prep.) on its way to defeating Castleton St., 12-3, in a non-league contest at Robison Field. The win was the Red Hawks’ 12th straight as they improve to 18-1 overall. The Spartans fall to 5-13.
RPI scored first with three runs in the bottom of the second. Sophomore Camden Mamigonian (Dover, NH/Dover) drew a one-out walk before classmate Andrew Krushelnyski (Bloomfield, MI/Brother Rice) reached on an error and senior Stevan Slusher (Pedricktown, NJ/Penns Grove) singled to right to load the bases. Senior Shane Griffin (Hudson, NY/Hudson) then lined a single up the middle, which drove in Mamigonian and Krushelnyski. Senior Matt Muscatiello (Kinderhook, NY/Ichabod Crane) finished the rally with a sacrifice fly to right.
The Spartans loaded the bases in the top of the fourth, but Carroll was able to work out of the inning unscathed. Brad Polcare (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga) walked to lead off the inning and Kyle Brooks (Charlotte, VT/Champlain Valley) and Dan Conley (Manchester, NH/New Hampton) followed with back-to-back singles. Carroll then struck out one and got the next batter to ground to Krushelnsyki at first, who threw home for the force play. Carroll finished off the rally by getting a groundout to short.
Junior centerfielder Sean Wilkes (Troy, NY/Catholic Central) drove in the Red Hawks' fourth run with an RBI triple in the fourth. In the fifth, after designated hitter Patrick Reardon (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute) walked, Mamigonian hit his fourth home run of the season to put Rensselaer in front, 6-0.
The Red Hawks scored four runs in the sixth to open up a 10-0 advantage. After Griffin led off the inning with a double, Wilkes, senior Dan Valentine (Goshen, CT/Avon Old Farms), Reardon and Mamigonian all delivered run-scoring base hits.
Castleton St. got on the board in the top of the seventh on run-producing singles by Anthony DiPiertrantonio (Yorktown Heights, NY/Yorktown) and Lauck Blake (Harland, VT/New Hampton). RPI answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning, pushing its lead back to 10 runs (12-2). Freshman Dan Stroud (Central Nyack, NY/Nyack) reached on a one-out double and was driven in by a Wilkes single. After a walk, Valentine finished the scoring by singling home Wilkes.
The Spartans scored one run in the top of ninth, when Polcare drew a bases loaded walk.
Conley ended the day 2 for 4 for Castleton St., while Blake finished 1 for 3 with a run batted in. Starter Billy Bruneau (Shaftsbury, VT/ Mt. Anthony) allowed six runs (4 earned) on six hits in five innings.
Carroll completed six innings to pick up his third win of the season. He allowed three hits and two walks while striking out one. Mamigonian finished the afternoon 2 for 3 with a double, a home run, two runs and three RBI. Wilkes went 4 for 5 with a triple, two runs and three RBI.
The Red Hawks return to action on Thursday when they host New Paltz at Robison Field (3:30pm)
