Box Score
Box Score

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – Junior pitcher Andrew Mondo surrendered just one run on three hits with nine strikeouts in 5.1 innings, to lead the 15th-ranked baseball team to a 3-1 victory over Western New England College, in NCAA New York Regional action, at the Farmingdale Baseball Complex. With the win the Red Hawk tie the school record for wins as they improve to 36-11. The Golden Bears move to 30-16.

Mondo (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) improves to 11-2 on the season, breaking the school mark for pitching wins in a season.

Golden Bears starter Evan Michaud (Windsor Locks, CT/Windsor Locks) took a one-hitter into the top of the fifth inning, when Rensselaer found its way on the scoreboard. With one out in the inning, walks to Andrew Krushelnyski (Bloomfield Hills, MI/Brother Rice) and Tom Jebb (Ticonderoga, NY/Ticonderoga) filled first and second base. Sean Wilkes (Troy, NY/Catholic Central) then beat out an infield single to short, with the throw sailing over the first baseman and allowing a run to score. Josh Brooks (Lake Katrine, NY/Kingston) then sent a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Jebb from third for the second run.

Western New England shortstop Justin Walz (Groton, CT/Fitch) tripled with one away in the bottom of the inning and came around to score on a wild pitch, to pull within one at 2-1.

The Red Hawks got the run back, however, in the top of the sixth. A single and a double by Jim Devine (Castleton, NY/Columbia) and Scott Robinson (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) put runners on second and third with one out. After a hit by pitch and a strikeout, Jebb was drilled in the shoulder on a 3-1 pitch to drive in RPI's third run.

Mondo struck out Chris Newell (Wallingford, CT/Sheehan) to open the bottom of the sixth, but the next batter, Joe Griglun (Southington, CT/Southington), struck the RPI hurler in the throwing arm. Mondo then walked the next batter on four pitches, before giving way to Andrew Novick (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay).

Novick issued a walk to Tony Trubia (Tolland, CT/Tolland) to load to bases, before Matt Fleishman (East Northport, NY/Commack) hit a ball to rightcenter that Wilkes made a sliding catch on in the gap. Trubia overran the runner on second and was called out for the double play.

Freshman Dan Duval (Middleton, MA/Masconomet) came on for RPI and pitched 1.1 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit. Sophomore Mike Cieszko (Stevenson Ranch, CA/William S. Hart) struck out two of the three batters he faced in the ninth to earn his fifth save on the year and second in as many games.

The Red Hawks return to action tomorrow afternoon against Clarkson (12pm).