Box Score

AUBURN, N.Y. – The fourth-ranked SUNY Cortland baseball team came back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 4-3, this evening in NCAA Regional action from Falcon Park. With the win, the Red Dragons improve to 35-9 overall, while the Engineers drop to 28-14.

RPI senior Mike Campisi (Kings Park, NY/Kings Park) and Cortland sophomore Brandon McClain (Coram, NY/Longwood) were locked a pitchers' duel early on, as the game remained scoreless through four innings.

The Engineers were the first put a dent in the scoreboard, when the plated three runs on three hits. Following a leadoff single by junior Al Mersman (Newark, DE/Salesianum), freshman Nick Annunziata (Neshanic Station, NJ/St. Joseph) dropped down a sacrifice bunt.

Following a ground out and a hit by pitch, Rensselaer had runners on the corners with two away. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position before sophomore Tyler Listing (West Sand Lake, NY/Averill Park) smacked a base-hit up the middle to score the game's first two runs. Junior Andrew Kalish (Clifton, Park, NY/Shenendehowa) then delivered an RBI-single of his to make it 3-0.

Cortland had an answer in the sixth as they scored three times to tie the game at 3-3. The Red Dragons took advantage of a pair of RPI errors in the inning, before Annunziata doubled junior Chris Jackson (Wappingers Falls, NY/Roy C. Ketcham) off of second for a double-play to end the threat.

After the Engineers went through the top of the seventh inning scoreless, Cortland plated the eventual game-winning run in the bottom half of the frame. Senior Brian Barry (Nesconset, NY/Smithtown East) singled following an RPI error to put two on with nobody out. Both runners moved up on another Engineers' miscue, which led to a go-ahead sac fly off the bat of sophomore Donny Castaldo (Utica, NY/New Hartford).

Despite putting a pair of runners on in the top of the eighth, Rensselaer was not able to scratch across the tying run.

Campisi allowed four runs (1 earned) on six hits over 8.0 innings to earn his eighth complete game of the season. He struck out five and walked two. McClain (5-0) surrendered three runs on six hits over 7.0 innings. He struck out nine and walked two. Senior Tyler Scott (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz) earned his fourth saves, tossing the final two innings.

The Engineers are back in action on Thursday, when they face Rowan University at 1:15pm.