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WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - Junior Greg Echeverria threw a nine-inning, complete game shutout to cap a two-win afternoon for the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team, today against Skidmore College. With wins of 10-4 and 3-0, the Engineers improve to 2-3 overall (2-0 Liberty League), while the Thoroughbreds drop to 4-4 (0-2 Liberty League). 

In game one, junior Nick Annunziata (Neshanic Station, NJ/St. Joseph) opened the scoring with a two-run single in the bottom fo the first inning. 

Following two scoreless innings, Skidmore fought back to take a 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth. The Thoroughbreds scored those runs on just one hit - an RBI-single off the bat of junior Jeb Clarke (Bethel, ME/Gould Academy) - while taking advantage of three RPI miscues in the field.

Skidmore added a run in the top of the fifth to double its advantage (4-2). Senior shortstop Nick Barra (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford-Sutherland) dropped down a safety squeeze with one out in the inning, which brought home junior Chris Lorenz (Fair Haven, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven Regional) from third.

Rensselaer then put together a three-run bottom half to regain a one-run edge. Pinch-hitter Michael Croke (South Hadley, MA/South Hadley) delivered a sacrifice fly, before senior Shane Matthews (Ballston Spa, NY/Saratoga Springs) put the Engineers on top for good with a single through the left side of the infield, which plated sophomore Thomas Desmond (Alamo, CA/De LaSalle).

The Engineers then blew the game open in the bottom of the sixth, scoring five run on five hits. Sophomore Sean Welling (Baltimore, MD/Loch Raven), Annunziata, Desmond and Croke all came through with run-scoring hits for RPI, which push its lead to 10-4.

Junior righthanded Stephen Schiavone (White Plains, NY/White Plains) picked up the victory in relief, allowing one unearned run over 2.1 innings. He struck out two and walked two. Sophomore Adam Aponte (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh) was credited with the save, pitching the final 1.2 innings.

In game two, Echeverria settled down after some early control issues to hurl all nine innings of RPI's 3-0 shutout victory. He allowed just three hits and a walk, while striking out 10. Senior Nick Petrella (West Sayville, NY/Sayville) was saddled with the tough-luck loss, giving up three runs (2 earned) on eight hits over seven innings of work.

The Engineers scored single runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings to secure the victory. Senior Tim LeSuer (Oak View, CA/Nordhoff) went 3 for 4 with an RBI, while classmate Jared Jensen (Kingston, NY/Kingston) was 2 for 3 with two runs scored.

Both teams are back in action tomorrow afternoon (12pm) for a doubleheader.