Box Score

LAKELAND, Fla. – Senior Al Mersman hit a home run and drove in six to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team to a 13-2 victory over Rhode Island College. With the win, which was shortened to a five-inning affair due to rain, the Engineers improve to 5-1 on the season, while the Anchormen drop to 3-5.

Mersman (Newark, DE/Salesianum) opened things with a bang, launching the Engineers first home run of the spring, over the fence in left, in the bottom of the first inning. The three-run shot was the first of his collegiate career. Later in the frame, freshman Thomas Desmond (Alamo, CA/De LaSalle) plated RPI's fourth run with a single to center.

Rhode Island pulled to within 4-2 in the top of the fourth, when freshman Tyler Rains (North Kingstown, RI/North Kingstown) homered to left. The round-tripper also brought home senior Justin Rainville (Cumberland, RI/Woonsocket).

The Engineers answered with a four-run bottom of the inning, highlighted by a two-run triple by Mersman, who finished the game a double away from the cycle. Rensselaer tacked on five more runs in the fifth, including a three-run shot by sophomore Nick Annunziata (Neshanic Station, NJ/St. Joseph).

Freshman righthander Rick Hord (Kissimmee, FL/Trinity Prep) earned the win in relief, allowing two hits in 2.0 innings, while striking out two. Classmate Jack Krasovec (Haverhill, MA/St. Johns Prep) gave up two runs on four hits in 4.0 innings.

The Engineers return to action tomorrow night, when they St. Joseph's College (ME) in Lake Myrtle (5pm).