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TROY, N.Y. - Senior Jared Jensen threw a complete game and had two hits, a run and an RBI in the first game and then hit two home runs with three runs scored and five runs batted in during the nightcap to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team to a pair of victories over Vassar College, 8-2 and 18-0. The Engineers, who were making their home debut, improve to 9-7 overall and 8-2 in the league, while the Brewers are now 1-7 and 0-6.

Jensen (Kingston, NY / Kingston) pitched all seven innings in the opener, allowing two runs on six hits with eight strikeouts. He walked just one in improving to 1-2. At the plate, he singled and doubled in four trips, scoring in the first inning and knocking in a run in the fourth. 

Senior Shane Matthews (Ballston Spa, NY / Saratoga Catholic) also had a single and a double with three RBI for the Engineers, who scored eight runs on 12 hits. Senior shortstop Nick Palmiero (Patterson, NY / Carmel) had two hits, including a first inning triple, along with a run and two knocked in. Nick Annunziata (Neshanic Station, NJ / St. Joseph H.S.) added two hits and two runs.

Vassar had six different players collect a hit apiece, including junior Brooks English (Milton, MA / Milton Academy) and senior Kyle Casey (San Diego, CA / Vista), both of whom also scored a run. Sophomore Adam Erkis (Radnor, PA / Radnor) went a full six innings, allowing seven earned runs with a walk and four strikeouts in the loss. 

RPI jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning when senior Tyler Listing (West Sand Lake, NY / Averill Park) and Jensen singled and eventually scored on a wild pitch and Palmiero's triple, respectively. Palmiero then scored on a ground out and that was all the run support Jensen needed. The Engineers later answered Vassar's single runs in the third and fourth innings and added two more on a double to rightfield by Matthews in the fifth inning.

Game two saw RPI explode for 10 runs in the third inning to build a 12-0 lead on its way to the 18-run victory. Jensen, who played centerfield, led the 18-hit attack by going 2 for 3 with two home runs, three runs scored and five runs batted in. He was also hit by a pitch. Sophomore Sam Lawrence (Chicago, IL / University of Chicago High School) also had a homer and finished 2 for 3 with two runs and two RBI off the bench. Junior catcher Michael Croke (South Hadley, MA / South Hadley) had a game-high three hits, including a double, with two runs and two RBI.

Junior Greg Echeverria (Longmeadow, MA / Longmeadow) threw a complete game shutout - his second of the season - to improve to 3-1. He allowed just five hits with no walks and eight strikeouts in his 97-pitch performance. Vassar sophomore Trent Berg (Milton, MA / Boston College High School) took the loss after he pitched the first 2.1 innings. The Brewers used a total of six pitchers in the nine inning game.

Freshman infielder Eric Strickland (Round Rock, TX / Round Rock) went 2 for 4 for the visitors, who host Rensselaer for a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at 1pm. The games will be played at Columbia University.