Box Score
Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Junior Scott Robinson had three hits, including a double and a home run, scored two runs and knocked in four to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team to a come-from-behind 8-6 victory over the University of Rochester in an elimination game in the Liberty League Tournament at Robison Field.

Top seed and 15th-ranked RPI improves to 32-10 and advances to play in game 5 – another elimination game – against the loser of the contest between third-seeded Clarkson University and fourth-seeded Skidmore College at 4:30pm. Rochester, the second seed and 24th-ranked team in the nation, falls to 30-13.

With the scored tied 4-4 going into the bottom of the eighth inning, Rensselaer saw its first two hitters fly out on the first pitches they saw. Junior Nic Marchese (Tampa, FL/Chamberlain) then singled to right field and junior Andrew Krushelnyski (Bloomfield Hills, MI/Brother Rice) followed with a base hit of his own. Robinson (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) drove a 3-2 pitch to right centerfield to plate the tying runs. After a pitching change, the next batter, junior Tom Jebb (Ticonderoga, NY/Ticonderoga), hit a two-run home run over the left field wall to give the home team an 8-4 lead.

Rochester opened the game's scoring when it manufactured a run in the third inning. Junior Andy Cannon (LaGrange Park, IL/Lyons Township) reached on a fielders' choice and stole second base. The next batter, freshman Rob Barnard (Springfield, VA/St. Stephen-St. Agnes), singled to score Cannon. RPI answered right back in its half of the frame when Robinson drove a 3-2 pitch over the right centerfield wall for his ninth home run of the season.

The Yellowjackets regained the lead with a pair of runs in the sixth inning but RPI again answered right back. For Rochester, senior designated hitter JJ Vanderstyne (Victor, NY/Victor) scored on a fielding error and senior Ryan Sullivan (Hilton, NY/Hilton) came home on a Matt Francis (East Amherst, NY/Clarence) sacrifice fly for a 3-1 lead.

The homestanding Red Hawks had the bases loaded and two outs in their half of the sixth when Krushelnyski lined a single to right centerfield that scored the tying runs. Robinson then greeted relief pitcher Steven Guzski (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) with a single that scored Marchese for a 4-3 lead.

The Yellowjackets knotted the game in the eighth inning with a Francis sacrifice fly. That was their only run despite having the bases loaded with no outs. Rochester added two runs in the ninth inning for the final margin.

In addition to Robinson, others with multiple hits for the Red Hawks were Krushelnyski, who was 2 for 4 with a run and two RBI, and Camden Mamigonian (Dover, NH/Dover), who was 2 for 4 with a run. Sophomore Mike Cieszko (Stevenson Ranch, CA/William S. Hart) earned the win, pitching two innings of relief.

For Rochester, which hopes to earn an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament, four players had multiple hits, including Barnard, who was 2 for 4 with an RBI, and Sullivan, who was 2 for 3 with two runs and a run batted in. Guzski took the loss to fall to 3-3.