Box Score
Box Score

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Sophomore Nic Marchese had three hits and four RBI, including a game-winning double in the bottom of the ninth inning, to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team to a 5-4 win over Olivet College. RPI concludes its spring break trip with a 4-4 record. The Comets are now 2-6.

Trailing 4-3 going into the last of the ninth inning, Rensselaer got a lead-off, eight-pitch walk by junior Scott Robinson (Schenectady, NY/Mohonosen). Pinch runner Mike Giacoia (Marlboro, NY/Marlboro) advanced to second base on an error by the pitcher and moved to third on a ground out. Senior Sean Wilkes (Troy, NY/Catholic Central) followed with a hard ground ball to shortstop that allowed Giacoia to score easily and put Wilkes on first base. After a Patrick Reardon (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute) walk put runners on first and second base, Marchese (Tampa, FL/Chamberlain) hit his walk-off double to dead centerfield to plate Wilkes.

Marchese finished the game by going 3 for 4, including a two-run home run in the first inning and an RBI single in the second. Reardon and Camden Mamigonian (Dover, NH/Dover) had two hits apiece for the Red Hawks, who saw junior Ryan Washburn (Gansevoort, NY/Schuylerville) earn the win – his second of the season – after pitching 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.

Rensselaer resumes action this weekend when it welcomes Liberty League foe St. Lawrence to Robison Field for a pair of doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday.

Olivet: 0-1-1 0-1-1 0-0-0 – 4 – 7 – 5
Rensselaer: 2-1-0 0-0-0 0-0-2 – 5 – 9 - 3

OLI: Beisiegel, Smoiler (6), Robbsen (7), Levert (8: Loss) and Blamer. RPI: Dreimiller, Novick (4), Washburn (8: Win) and Reardon.