Box Score The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team outlasted Central Region power Spalding University today by a score of 10-7. Jason Griffith picked up the win to improve to 1-0 on the season, leaving the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the ninth with a strikeout. It is the 2nd consecutive win for the Engineers, as they improve to 3-4 overall.  Spalding drops to 8-3-1 on the season.

The Engineers raced out to a quick lead in the top of the first, as Jonny Rio led off the game with a hard single to right. A two-base error by the right fielder allowed him to advance to third.  Kyle LaVigne  then flew out to left and Rio raced home to give the visiting team a 1-0 lead.

After a scoreless home half, Rensselaer was able to push its lead to 4-0.  A Jimmy Foley double put runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs, before Andrew Kalish drove in a run with a groundout. Cody Vincent singled a run before a two-out triple from LaVigne.

Freshman starter Sean Conroy held the Eagles scoreless again in the 2nd, and the Engineers were able to add to their lead in the 3rd.  Erik Kozak was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and a Chuck Erickson single, combined with a Spalding throwing error, put runners on 2nd and 3rd with nobody out.  Art Levenson drove a 1-2 fastball into the right center gap for a two-RBI double and a 6-0 advantage.

Conroy kept the Eagles at bay in the home half of the third.  LaVigne lead  the 4th inning with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. He then moved to third on a groundout, and scored on a balk for a 7-0 Engineers' lead.

Spalding was able to touch Conroy for a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth, via a pair of walks and two singles.  Brian Malin relieved Conroy, inducing a flyout to center to leave the bases loaded.  Conroy worked 4.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits in his first collegiate start.

After a scoreless RPI 7th, the Eagles were able to cut the Engineer lead to 7-5 with a pair of earned runs.

RPI was kept in check again in the 8th, and the Eagles pushed two across to tie the game at 7-7.  Griffith inherited a 1st and 2nd situation, but was able to work around a single and a hit by pitch to leave runners on the corners with two outs to keep the game tied.

A leadoff single from LaVigne started the Engineers ninth-inning rally.  Tanner Boucher laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance LaVigne to second, and Kozak followed with a double off the right field fence to put the Engineers back on top 8-7.  Erickson deposited the next pitch over the fence in deep right to push the Engineer lead to 10-7.

The Eagles, however, would not go quietly.  After getting two quick outs, Spalding was able to draw a hit by pitch and a walk. A catchers interference call then to load the bases.  Griffith was able to slam the door, picking up a strikeout to secure the victory.

The Engineers pounded out 13 hits, including six for extra bases.  Kyle LaVigne was 3 for 3 with two runs scored.  Jonny Rio, Chuck Erickson, and Art Levenson each had a pair of hits.

The Engineers will be back in action tomorrow at 12pm, taking on SUNYAC member Oswego State at Webber International University in Babson Park, Florida.