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TROY, N.Y. – Sophomore right-hander Dan Duval pitched his first collegiate complete game to help the ninth-ranked Rensselaer baseball to a split of a Liberty League doubleheader with Clarkson, at Robison Field. The Engineers (10-5; 2-2 Liberty League) won game one, 8-2, before the Golden Knights (3-8; 2-2) took game two, 9-7.

Duval (Middletown, MA/Masconomet) surrendered just one hit through the first 6.0 innings of game one, before giving up a two-run home run to Clarkson sophomore third baseman David Kinney (Mexico, NY/Mexico) in the seventh. Duval struck out five batters, while walking three to earn his third win of the season in the seven inning affair.

Rensselaer plated single runs in the first, second and fifth innings, before breaking out in the sixth, scoring four times on six hits. RBI base-hits from sophomore Billy Nikolski (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Spa) and Patrick Reardon (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute) highlighted the inning that gave the hosts a 7-0 lead.

The Engineers added a run in the top of the seventh on a Tom Jebb (Ticonderoga, NY/Ticonderoga) RBI-double, which scored Scott Robinson (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen), who had doubled earlier in the frame. Jebb finished game one going 3 for 4 with three runs scored and an RBI, while Robinson was 3 for 4 with two runs.

In game two, Clarkson built a 8-1 lead in the first four innings, as Kinney hit his second home run in as many games, while driving in three.

The Golden Knights answered two Rensselaer runs in the top of the fifth inning, by scoring one in the bottom of the inning, when Steve Magovney (Watertown, NY/Immaculate Heart) came home on a wild pitch by RPI freshman reliever Steve Manning (Newport Beach, CA/Corona Del Mar).

RPI came right back to pull within 9-4 with a run in the top of the sixth on an run scoring single off the bat of freshman shortstop Jonny Rio (Maplewood, NJ/Columbus). The Engineers then loaded the bases, but Clarkson relief pitcher Bryan Lajeunesse (Watervliet, NY/Albany Academy) was able to strike out Duval, who had entered the game as a defensive replacement, to end the inning.

Senior first baseman Andrew Krushelnyski (Bloomfield Hills, MI/Brother Rice) led off the seventh with his first home run of the season, making it a 9-5 game. Rensselaer was able to scratch across another run on an RBI single by Nikolski to draw within three (9-6).

Rensselaer loaded the bases in the top of the ninth, and Rio was able to plate one run when he reached on a fielder's choice, but pinch hitter Art Levenson's (San Diego, CA/University City) potential go-ahead extra-base hit was snagged by Magovney near the left field fence to end the game.

Clarkson starting pitcher Alex Giovanonne (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) went 4.2 innings, allowing three runs on six hits, while striking out four with four walks. Kinney finished 2 for 4 with two runs.

Rensselaer is back on the diamond on Friday for a non-league match-up with Old Westbury (1pm).