Box Score Box Score

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Powered by an 11-run effort in the seventh inning, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team defeated Keystone College, 14-0.  The ninth-ranked Engineers, who were led by a 4 for 5 performance from senior catcher Patrick Reardon, improve to 5-0 on the season.  The Giants, who are 17th-nationally, are now 4-2 overall.

The game marked a big match-up between the two ranked squads, which both appeared in the NCAA Tournament last season.   Keystone posted a 40-6 record in 2009, advancing to the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship game, while Rensselaer was 37-13 a season ago, playing in the championship of the New York Regional for the second straight season.

RPI got on the board quickly, opening up a 3-0 lead through the first five innings against Keystone ace Sean Murphy (Philadelphia, PA/North Catholic), who pitched 6.0 innings.  The Engineers offense broke loose in the top of the seventh as the first six hitters all reached against Giants' lefthander Brian Del Rosso (Stewartsville, NJ/Phillipsburg). 

He allowed five runs before giving way to righthanded hurler Cesar Gracia (Toa Alta, PR/Central de Artes Visuales), who surrendered the next six hits to Rensselaer.

A number of players came up big at the plate led by Reardon, who scored four runs with another four batted in to go along with two doubles.  Freshman shortstop Jonny Rio (Maplewood, NJ/Columbia) also had a great effort, going 3 for 5 with two runs and a run batted in.  Senior Camden Mamigonian (Dover, NH/Dover) was 2 for 4 with three RBI and a double, while classmate Tom Jebb (Ticonderoga, NY/Ticonderoga) also had two hits, including a double, with three runs scored and an RBI.

On the mound, senior Ryan Washburn (Gansevoort, NY / Schuylerville) improved to 2-0 on the season with a solid shutout performance.  He allowed five hits, while striking out five batters through 7.0 innings.  Sophomore Jason Griffith (Lititz, PA / Warwick) came on in relief, striking out two batters in the eighth inning.  The game was called at the end of the inning due to darkness.

RPI is back on the diamond on Thursday morning, taking on Worcester Polytechnic Institute at 9:30am in Auburndale, Fla.

Rensselaer: 1-0-1 -- 0-1-0 -- 11-0 - 14 15 1
Keystone:      0-0-0 -- 0-0-0 -- 0-0 - 0 6 1