Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

TROY, N.Y. – Freshman Nick Annunziata went a combined 5 for 8 to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team to a doubleheader split with Vassar College, this afternoon at Robison Field. The Engineers, who lost game 6-4, before winning 11-10, move to 12-7 overall (5-5 Liberty League), while the Brewers are now 8-9 (4-6 Liberty League).

The visitors scored two runs in the top of first inning of game one, thanks to some miscues by the Engineers in the field. Brewers freshman Brooks English (Milton, MA/Milton Academy) made it 3-0 in the second, when he drove home senior Mike Perrone (Seaford, NY/Seaford) with a single to center.

An RBI-single off the bat of RPI sophomore Tim LeSuer (Oak View, CA/Nordhoff) made it a 3-1 game in bottom of the third. The teams then traded runs in the fourth.

A Perrone solo home run to left gave Vassar a 6-3 lead in the top of the sixth. The Engineers were able to scratch across one run in the bottom of the seventh on a double by LeSuer, but Brewers starting pitcher Joe Lovitzio (Lindenhurst, NY/Lindenhurst) was able to shut the door on RPI rally and finish off the complete game.

Lovitzio allowed four runs on three hits in 7.0 innings. He struck out nine, while walking two. Perrone went 3 for 3 with four runs scored, while Englished finished 2 for 2 with two runs and two runs batted in.

In game two, the Engineers rallied from an 8-4 deficit after five innings to earn the split. Rensselaer scored the first three runs of the game thanks a two-run home run from senior Jonny Rio (Maplewood, NJ/Maplewood) and a solo shot by classmate Chuck Erickson (Mansfield, MA/Mansfield).

Vassar stormed back scoring four in the second and one in the third. The second inning rally was capped by a steal of home by Perrone. Rensselaer countered the Brewers' single in the third with one of their own as Annunziata (Neshanic Station, NJ/St. Joseph) belted his first collegiate home run, over the fence in left, to pull within 5-4.

A three run Vassar fifth inning make it 8-4, but RPI broke out the bats in the sixth, scoring six times. A bases loaded hit-by-pitch for junior Andrew Kalish (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) got the scoring started. Sophomore Jared Jensen (Kingston, NY/Kingston) then lifted a sac fly to center and Annunziata followed with an RBI-single to center. Rio and junior Shane Matthews (Ballston Spa, NY/Saratoga Catholic) followed with run-scoring singles, before Erickson drove in another with a double to deep left-center to give the hosts a 10-8 lead.

After the Brewers tied the game at 10-10 in the seventh, Annunziata gave the Engineers the lead for good in the bottom half of the inning with a run-scoring single.

Junior righthander Tim Gallagher (Snohomish, WA/Snohomish) earned the victory hill, allowing two runs (1 earned) on four hits in 4.1 innings of relief. He struck out two, while walking two.

The Engineers return to the diamond on Tuesday, when they host MCLA for a non-league contest at Robison Field (4pm).