Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team finished off a four-game series sweep of the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), this afternoon, taking both games of a Liberty League doubleheader by scores of 5-4 and 23-5. With the wins, the Engineers improve to 17-7 overall (9-5 Liberty), while the Tigers drop to 9-10 (4-8 Liberty).

Rensselaer scored two runs in the second inning of game one, an RBI-single from sophomore Jim Foley (Yonkers, NY/Iona Prep) and a run-scoring groundout off the bat of classmate Tyler Listing (West Sand Lake, NY/Averill Park). The Engineers tacked on a run in the third as junior Shane Matthews (Ballston Spa, NY/Saratoga Catholic) hit one back through to box to plate freshman Nick Annunziata (Neshanic Station, NJ/St. Joseph).

An RBI-double by RIT freshman Taylor Hogan (Rochester, NY/Brighton) drew the visitors to within 3-1, but a great relay by the Engineers cut down a second run at the plate to end the inning.

RPI senior Chuck Erickson (Mansfield, MA/Mansfield) launched his team-leading fifth home run of the season in the top of the fifth to make it 5-1. The Tigers fought back with a run two runs in the bottom of the frame, thanks to a double by sophomore Skip Flanagan (Framingham, MA/Bishop Feehan) to make it 5-3 Engineers.

RIT threatened in the bottom of the seven scoring a run, before putting runners on first and third with just one out, but a pick-off by reliever Tim Gallagher (Snohomish, WA/Snohomish) took care of the second out, before he induced a game-ending groundout.

Sophomore righthander Jared Jensen (Kingston, NY/Kingston) earned the win on the hill, allowing three runs on five hits in 4.1 innings. He struck out two and walked four.

In game two, the Engineers broke open a 5-5 game in the top of the eighth, scoring eight runs on five hits. The outburst was highlighted by a two-run double down the right field line by Jensen. Junior Al Mersman (Newark, DE/Salesianum), Annunziata and sophomore Nick Palmiero (Patterson, NY/Carmel) followed with RBI-base hits.

RPI added three more runs in the top of the sixth, as junior Andrew Kalish (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) and Jensen delivered run-scoring singles to make it 16-5. A five-run eighth saw freshman Michael Croke (South Hadley, MA/South Hadley) hit his first collegiate home run.

Annuziata went 5 for 7 with three runs and three RBI, while Palmiero was 5 for 5 with a run and three RBI, despite entering the game in the fifth inning. Jensen finished 4 for 5 with three runs and four RBI.

The Engineers are back on the diamond on Tuesday, when they host Montclair State for a non-league game (4pm). RIT hosts Union College for four next Saturday (1pm) and Sunday (12pm).