Box Score Box Score

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. - Junior outfielder Art Levenson homered and drove in two runs, but the Rensselaer baseball team fell in its season opener, 8-4, to Western New England College, this afternoon at the Farmingdale Sports Complex. With the win, the Golden Bears improve to 2-0 on the young season, while the Engineers open at 0-1.

RPI took an early 3-0, scoring twice in the second and once in the third. Levenson's (San Diego, CA/University City) two-run homer in the second marked the Engineers first runs of 2011, before freshman Chuck Erickson (Mansfield, MA/Mansfield) notched his first collegiate run batted in, with a single in the third.

WNEC scored all the runs it would need in the bottom of the third inning, as seven Golden Bears cross the plate on just five hits. Sophomore Matt Anthonis (Guilford, CT/Guilford) highlighted the scoring with a three-run triple.

The two teams traded runs in the fifth inning, to complete the scoring.

Sophomore righthander Kevin Jefferis (Cheshire, CT/Cheshire) earned the victory, allowing four runs (3 earned) on eight hits over 6.0 innings. He struck out five without allowing a walk. RPI senior Mike Cieszko (Stevenson Ranch, CA/William S. Hart) was tabbed with the loss, surrendering seven runs on five hits over 2.2 innings.

The Engineers are back in action tomorrow morning, when they face St. Joseph's of Long Island (10am).