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

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Junior Mike Campisi allowed just three singles and no runs with eight strikeouts to lead the Rensselaer baseball team to a 6-0 victory over RIT in the Liberty League opener for both teams. The righthander went the distance of 7.0 innings in the first game of a doubleheader. The Tigers came back in the second game, posting a 5-4 win.

Campisi (Kings Park, NY / Kings Park), who walked three batters, improves to 2-0 with two complete games in four starts. Offensively, the Engineers were led by junior leftfielder Tanner Boucher (Keene, NH / Keene), who had three hits and three runs batted in. Sophomore catcher Eric Kozak (New York, NY / Dalton School) added two hits, including a triple.

The Engineers did their damage in the third inning. Chuck Erickson (Mansfield, MA / Mansfield) singled to start the inning off, followed by a double off the bat of Al Mersman. Cody Vincent (Catskill, NY / John A. Coleman) grounded out, then Jonny Rio (Maplewood, NJ / Columbia) grounded out, allowing Erickson to score. Andrew Kalish (Clifton Park, NY / Shenendehowa) ripped a single up the middle, scoring Mersman. Kyle LaVigne (Ashland, MA / Ashland) reached after being hit by a pitch, before Boucher roped a double to right field, scoring two.

Rensselaer tacked on single runs in each of the next two innings. Among the highlights was a solo home run by senior rightfielder Art Levenson (San Diego, CA / University City).

The homestanding Tigers' best chance came in the fourth inning. Kreag Bradley (Victor, NY / Victor) singled on a bunt to start the inning , but was picked off after taking a large lead at first. Walt Roman (Spencerport, NY / Spencerport) reached on an error, followed by a Brian Brazee walk. Greg Schworm (Rochester, NY / Churchville Chili) flied out to center field, before Skip Flanagan (Framingham, MA / Bishop Feehan) grounded into a fielder's choice, getting Roman out at third.

Game two saw Renssealaer go up 2-0 after the top of the fourth, but RIT fought back. Roman led off the inning with a hit-by-bitch, followed by a single by Brazee. Schworm laced a double to center field to drive in Roman, followed by an RBI single by Flanagan. Tyler Ramotar (Burnt Hills, NY / Burnt Hills-Ballston Spa) reached on a fielder's choice, driving in Schworm. Ramotar then came home on a single for the Tigers' final run in the inning.

The Engineers picked up another run in the fifth, and tied the game in the top of the eighth on a home run by LaVigne. He finished with two hits, a run and two runs batted in. Levi Washburn (Gansevoort, NY / Schuylerville), who pitched 4.0 innings of relief, suffered the loss.

Flanagan got the bottom of the eighth started with a double to left field and moved to second on a sacrifice. Jaren Bell (Rochester, NY / Brighton) singled up the middle to drive in the game winning run. Tyler Leichtenberg (Warren, PA / Warren Area) pitched a perfect ninth inning for the victory.  Michael Burns (Rochester, NY / Rush-Henrietta) was stellar for the Tigers, allowing eight hits and striking out seven in eight innings of work.

The two teams are back in action on Saturday in a doubleheader, starting at 12pm.