TROY, N.Y. - Phil McGovern and Jack Roberts combined to go 8 for 10 as the Williams College baseball team came back from an early seven-run deficit to beat Rensselaer Polytechnic Intitute (RPI), 9-8, this afternoon, in non-league play at Robison Field. With the win, the Ephs improve to 7-12 overall, while the Engineers drop to 14-9.

RPI scored four runs in the first and three in the second to jump out to an early 7-0 advantage. Senior Jared Jensen got things started with an RBI-triple to the wall in right. After an error brought home a run, sophomore Thomas Desmond brought in another with a groundout to short. Classmate Jason Ramos drove in a run with a single to left to end the scoring in the first.

Senior Nick Palmiero was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 5-0, before a double-play ball brought in another. Ramos once again came through with a run scoring single to give RPI a 7-0 lead.

Williams scratched one run across in the top of the third, on an RBI-single by McGovern. Luke Pierce homered with one aboard in the sixth, drawing the visitors to within 7-3.

The Ephs then scored three runs in the seventh to make it a one-run game (7-6). Roberts doubled in a run, followed by a sacrifice fly and an error that brought in two more.

Palmiero lifted an RBI-double to right, in the eighth, to give the Engineers an 8-6 lead, heading into the top of the ninth. 

Williams then took its first lead in the next frame, thanks to a two-out go-ahead single off the bat of Jackson Parese. McGovern finished 4 for 5 with two runs and an RBI. Roberts also went 4 for 5 with two runs and RBI. 

RPI was led offensive by Jensen, who finished 3 for 4, with a triple, three runs and an RBI. Ramos went 2 for 2 with two RBI.

The Engineers are back in action tomorrow afternoon, when they host Stevens Institute of Technology (4:30pm). Williams visits Gordon College tomorrow (3:30pm).