Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
Game 1 Box / Game 2 Box

TROY, N.Y. – Sophomore right fielder Nic Marchese (Tampa, FL) went 5 for 7 with a home run and four runs batted in as the Rensselaer baseball team defeated St. Lawrence 8-4 and 10-6 at Robison Field. With the win the Red Hawks improve to 6-4 overall and 2-0 in the Liberty League. The Saints fall to 4-5 (0-2 Liberty).

In game one, the Saints took a three-run lead, scoring single runs in the first, second and fourth innings. Junior third baseman Ryan Duff (Concord, MA) and designated hitter Robert Carman (Pickering, ON) each contributed run-scoring hits in the second and fourth, respectively.

The Red Hawks pulled to within a run (3-2) in the bottom of the fourth. Sophomore Mike Cieszko (Stevenson Ranch, CA) plated junior Cam Mamigonian (Dover, NH) with a double, before junior Scott Robinson (Schenectady, NY) delivered an RBI single. The teams then traded single runs in the fifth.

RPI starting pitcher Andrew Opperman (Oneida, NY) was able to keep the Saints off the scoreboard in the top of the sixth before the Red Hawks exploded for five runs in the bottom of the inning. Hits from Cieszko, sophomore Tom Jebb (Ticonderoga, NY) and junior Patrick Reardon (Troy, NY), along with a walk to senior Sean Wilkes (Troy, NY), scored a pair of runs before Marchese drove in the final three runs of the game with a three-run homer.

Opperman (2-1) earned the win for the Red Hawks, allowing four runs (3 earned) on eight hits over 6.0 innings of work. He struck out four, while walking just one. Steve Bodnar (Carlisle, MA) took the loss for the Saints, pitching all 6.0 innings. He gave up eight runs (7 earned) on 11 hits.

Game two saw the Red Hawks open up a 7-0 lead through five innings of play. Leading 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth, Marchese and Mamigonian delivered run-scoring hits, while junior first baseman Andrew Krushelnyski (Bloomfield Hills, MI) added a sacrifice fly.

The Saints answered with four runs of their own in the top of the sixth. Sophomore Garrett Fitzgerald (Wayland, MA) drew a bases-loaded walk from Rensselaer starter Andrew Mondo (Clifton Park, NY), before freshman Bryan Brennan (Randolph, NY) came home on a wild pitch.

Rensselaer got one run back in the bottom of the inning and each side scored two runs in the seventh. The Red Hawks bullpen was able to shut the door in the final two innings, not allowing as much as a baserunner.

Mondo (2-1) earned the game two victory, surrendering four runs (1 earned) on four hits over 6.0 innings of work. He struck out seven batters. Freshman Jason Griffith (Lititz, PA) and Cieszko combined for 2.2 scoreless innings in relief. St. Lawrence starter Chris Cook (Sunderland, MA) took the loss, allowing eight runs (7 earned) on 10 hits over 6.0 innings. He struck out six and did not give up a free pass.

The Red Hawks return to action on Sunday afternoon when they take on the Saints (12pm) to complete the four-game series.