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TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team hit four home runs – including two in a six-run second inning – to overcome an early deficit and defeat Castleton State, 12-8, in a non-league game at Robison Field. The Engineers, the 8th-ranked team in the nation, improve to 7-1, while the Spartans fall to 2-7.

After falling behind by four runs in the first 1.5 innings, RPI used the long ball to take a 6-4 lead after the second inning. Rensselaer pulled to within three runs, 4-1, on a Scott Robinson (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) double off the top of the right field wall with two runners on base. After plating their second run, the Engineers tied the game, 4-4, on a home run to right field by junior Billy Nikolski (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) – his first of two on the afternoon. Two batters later, senior Patrick Reardon (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute) homered to left field for a 6-4 lead.

Castleton got a run back in the fourth inning when David Brandt (Contoocook, NH) scored unearned but the Engineers answered with three runs in the fourth for a 9-5 advantage. RPI added three more runs over the next two innings on a solo home run by Nikolski and a two-run homer by Robinson for a 12-5 lead.

The Spartans scored three runs in the eighth inning on a three-run home run by freshman second baseman Ryan Zielinski (Schenectady, NY), who was 3 for 5 with two runs and five RBI, for the final margin.

Rensselaer got three hits apiece from Nikolski (3 for 5, 2 runs, 3 RBI), the center fielder, Reardon (3 for 3, 2 runs, 2 RBI), the catcher, and Robinson (3 for 4, 2 runs, 4 RBI), the third baseman. First baseman Andrew Krushelnyski (Bloomfield Hills, MI/Brother Rice) was 2 for 2 with a run scored.

Sophomore Dan Duval (Middletown, MA/Masconomet) earned the win in relief, allowing just one hit and one unearned run in 4.0 innings. He struck out four. Castleton starter Ken Cook (Springfield, VT) suffered the loss after giving up six runs (4 earned) on seven hits in 2.0 innings.

RPI is back on the field on Saturday when it travels to Montclair State to play the Red Hawks at 2pm. The Spartans play a doubleheader at Coast Guard Academy on Sunday beginning at noon.