Box Score Box Score

The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute baseball team captured its second victory of the season this afternoon, a 10-5 victory over Stevens Institute in the Russmatt Florida Invitational.  The Engineers improve to 2-4, while the Ducks drops to 6-3.

After three scoreless frames, the Engineers struck first when Sophomore catcher Erik Kozak, who led off with a double, scored on an RBI groundout from senior Art Levenson.  The Ducks answered with one of their own in the bottom half, touching freshman starter Jared Jensen with a single run to knot the game at one.

RPI took a 2-1 advantage in the 6th, as freshman Jimmy Foley drove home Tanner Boucher with a sacrifice fly in his first career at bat.  The Ducks came back to take a 3-2 lead in the bottom half, chasing Jensen.  Jensen went 5.2 innings, giving up two earned runs on five hits in his first career start.

Rensselaer would come back to tie it it in the 7th, when Jonny Rio came around to score from second on a single from Tanner Boucher  Stevens took a 4-3 lead in the bottom half of the 7th.

The Engineers got right back on it in the 8th, registering htree runs to take a 6-4 advantage.  Kozak led off with his second double of the game, before Chuck Erickson drove home pinch runner Tyler Listing with a single.  A double play ball erased the runners, but Foley got things going with two outs with a hard single down the right field line. Andrew Kalish singled and stole second to put runners on 2nd and 3rd, and Cody Vincent lined a single to knock in two to close out the scoring for the Engineers in the 8th.

Stevens was able to push one across in the bottom of the 8th to make it 6-5, as Dan Duval came in with runners on first and second with two outs to register a strikeout and end the threat.   A four-run outburtst from the Engineers in the top of the 9th, featuring a two-run single from Kyle LaVigne, provided the final margin.

Drew Korte, who relieved Jensen in the 6th, picked up the win in two innings of work. He improves to 1-1 on the mound this season.  Dan Duval earned the save, his first, registering the final four outs.

Erik Kozak continued his hot start, going 3 for 4 with two doubles and two runs scored.  Boucher finished 3 for 5, and LaVigne, Rio, Erickson, Kalish,  Foley, and Cody Vincent each had a pair of hits.  The Engineers totaled 18 hits in all, including four for extra bases.

The Engineers will be back in action again tomorrow, taking on Spalding University (KY) in Auburndale, FL.  First pitch is scheduled for 10am.