Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Game 1 Box / Game 2 Box

TROY, N.Y. – With help on offense from junior Art Levenson (San Diego, CA/University City), who went 4-7 on the afternoon with six runs batted in, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team swept a doubleheader against St. Lawrence in the Liberty League opener for both teams. With wins of 4-2 and 18-5, the Engineers improve to 8-4 overall (2-0 Liberty), while the Saints fall to 2-8 (0-2 Liberty).

Levenson pounded out four hits, including a double and a three-run homer, to pace a dominant RPI offense. Classmate Kyle LaVigne (Ashland, MA/Ashland) was also 4-7 on the day, including a 4-5 effort with three runs scored and 5 RBI in game two.

RPI jumped out to an early lead in game one, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Sophomore shortstop Jonny Rio (Maplewood, NJ/Columbia) got things started with a single that scored LaVigne. Levenson drove in Rio later in the inning to give the home team the 2-0 advantage.

The Saints would tie things up in the third, as sophomore Paul Piatelli knocked a two-run shot over the right field fence, but the Engineers regained the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth, when a St. Lawrence error allowed two RPI runs to cross the plate.

Senior Mike Cieszko (Stevenson Ranch, CA/William S. Hart) earned the win, going 7.0 innings and giving up just two runs on four hits. He struck out 13 and walked three. Chris Cook, who gave up four runs (two earned) on five hits through 6.0 innings, shouldered the loss for the Saints.

St. Lawrence was able to get on the board first in game two, with help from freshman Khifer O'Connor's two-out, two-run homer in the top of the first, but RPI responded in their own half of the frame. The Engineers sent 11 batters to the plate and tallied seven runs to jump out to an early 7-2 lead. The inning was highlighted by a three-run triple from LaVigne.

The Saints tacked on two more runs before the Engineers blew the game open in the fourth inning, scoring nine runs for a 16-4 lead. Levenson drove in the first three runs of the frame with a homer to right field, adding an RBI single later in the inning. LaVigne and junior Markus Delello (Sidney, NY/Sidney) also recorded RBIs before the inning's end.

RPI added two more runs in the sixth, while St. Lawrence scored one of their own in the eighth, bringing the final score to 18-5.

On the mound, sophomore Mike Campisi (Kings Park, NY/Kings Park) pitched 7.0 innings, giving up four runs on seven hits for the victory. Pat Considine pitched 3.1 innings, surrendering 11 runs (6 earned) on four hits in the loss for the Saints.

The two teams square off again tomorrow at Robison Field. Game one begins at 12pm.