Box Score
Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Skidmore College scored six runs in the first inning – all unearned – and the Thoroughbreds held off Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 8-7, in a first round game in the Liberty League Tournament at Robison Field. Skidmore, the fourth seed, improves to 23-19 and advances to the winners' bracket. RPI, the top seed and ranked 15th nationally, falls to 31-10 and will play an elimination game on Saturday morning.

Skidmore jumped on the Red Hawks with its six-run first inning with the help of three hits, three RPI errors and a hit batsman. Junior second baseman Jake Mendell (St. George, VT/Champlain Valley) led off with a single, stole second base and came around on an error. A double to right field by junior first baseman Matt Pisani (Winchester, MA/Winchester) plated two more runs for a 3-0 lead.

Senior catcher Justin Morelli (East Setauket, NY/Ward Melville), who reached on catcher's interference, then scored on a passed ball, Pisani came home on an error and Rob Rubenstein (Highland Park, NJ/Highland Park), who reached on a miscue, scored on an RBI single by sophomore Zach Brown (Victor, NY/Victor).

Rensselaer got a run back in its half of the first inning and pulled to within three runs, 6-3, on a two-run single in the second inning by junior Patrick Reardon (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute). The home team earned its fourth run on a home run to right field in the third inning by sophomore designated hitter Josh Brooks (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville), who also drove in RPI's first run.

The Thoroughbreds extended their lead to four runs, 8-4, in the fourth inning on a Mike Jaffe (Wynnewood, PA/Lower Merion) triple and a Pisani groundout.

A three-run sixth inning that featured run-scoring singles from junior Camden Mamigonian (Dover, NH/Dover) and senior Jim Devine (Castleton, NY/Columbia) cut Rensselaer's deficit to one, 8-7, but the Red Hawks could get no closer despite getting runners on base in each of their final three at bats.

Skidmore relief pitcher Nick Laracuente (Tenafly, NJ/Tenafly) came on to earn a four-inning save – his second of the season – surrendering just one run on three hits. He took over after starter Ed Reilly (Tenafly, NJ/Tenafly) went 5.0 innings, allowing six runs on nine hits. He struck out four, while walking three to improve to 5-4.

RPI starter Andrew Mondo (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa), the Liberty League Pitcher of the Year, gave up eight runs (2 earned) on seven hits in 3.2 innings. He struck out two and walked three in watching his 10-game winning streak snap. He is now 10-2. Freshman Dan Duval (Middleton, MA/Masconomet) and senior Andrew Novick (Hopewell Junction, NJ/John Jay) pitched 5.1 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit apiece.

Rensselaer is right back on the field as it faces the University of Rochester, the second seed and 24th-ranked team in Division III, in an elimination game beginning at 9:30am. Skidmore faces Clarkson University, which defeated Rochester, 6-0, in a winners' bracket game at 1pm.

All games of the tournament can be followed with live statistics at http://www.rpiathletics.com/sports/2009/5/4/BB_0504093129.aspx?path=baseball. Each of the games RPI plays throughout the tournament can also be heard live on WRPI, 91.5 FM, and www.wrpi.org.