Box Score

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Senior shortstop Matt Muscatiello went 4 for 5 with a double, a home run, a run and three RBI to lead the No. 20 Rensselaer baseball team to a 13-4 win over St. Lawrence in the championship game of the Liberty League Tournament at Towers Field.  With the win, the Red Hawks improve to 33-10 and clinch a berth in the NCAA Tournament - RPI's 15th NCAA appearance in the last 17 years and 16th overall.

The Red Hawks opened the scoring with a run in the first inning on a bases loaded groundout by sophomore designated hitter Patrick Reardon (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute).  Muscatiello's (Kinderhook, NY/Ichabod Crane) home run, a two-run shot to left centerfield, in the second inning put RPI ahead, 3-0. 

After St. Lawrence pulled to within 3-1 in the third inning, Rensselaer scored four runs in the fourth for a 7-1 advantage.  The big blow was a bases loaded double over the centerfielder's head by Reardon that cleared the bases.

The Saints added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings before RPI scored four times on four hits, including a run-scoring double by Muscatiello, in the bottom of the sixth for an 11-3 lead.  Rensselaer's final two runs came in the eighth inning, this time on three hits.

Reardon finished with two of RPI's 17 hits.  He also scored a run with four RBI.  Sean Wilkes (Troy, NY/Catholic Central) was 3 for 5 with two runs and an RBI and Jim Devine (Castleton, NY/Columbia) was 2 for 3 with a run and a run batted in.

Red Hawks starter John Dreimiller (Ticonderoga, NY/Ticonderoga) pitched 5.0 innings for the win.  He allowed two runs on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts to improve to 2-2.

St. Lawrence starter Jeff Graceffo (Auburn, NY/Auburn) suffered the loss, allowing three runs in 2.0 innings.  He is also now 2-2.  Offensively, third baseman Ryan Duff (Concord, MA/Cushing Academy) was 2 for 3 with a run batted in for the Saints, who finish the season 21-17.