TROY, N.Y. – Senior Phil Sammon went a combined 4 for 8 with five runs batted in to lead the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) baseball team to a doubleheader sweep of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) on Sunday afternoon at Robison Field. With wins of 14-2 and 12-11, the Tigers improve to 7-5 overall (2-0 Liberty League), while the Engineers drop to 5-11 (0-2 Liberty League).

In Game 1, RIT scored in every inning but the second for the 14-2, 7-inning victory.

Already leading 4-1 in the top of the fourth, the Tigers put up more runs for a 9-1 advantage. Sophomore Daniel Zeglen (Scotia, NY/Scotia-Glenville) delivered the big blow in the inning, plating a pair a single to right field. He then came around to score on a double to the gap in right center, off the bat of junior Dom Scialabba (North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick).

Senior Will Gorman (Nassau, NY/Columbia) made it 11-1 with a two-run homer to right, in the top of the fifth.

A bases-loaded walk and wild pitch extended the advantage to 13-1 in the top of the sixth, before RPI senior captain Sam Lawrence (Chicago, IL/University of Chicago High School) launched one of his two opposite field home runs of the day in the bottom half of the inning.

Junior Brian Reed (Rochester, NY/Penfield) went the distance on the hill to improve to 2-1 on the year. He allowed two runs on four hits, striking out six. RPI sophomore Aaron Kalish (Clifton Park, Shenendehowa) surrendered seven runs (4 earned) on nine hits in 3.0 innings.

In Game 2, the Tigers took an early 4-0 lead, before the Engineers came roaring back to go ahead 10-4 after three innings.

RPI's eight-run bottom of the third was highlighted by a bases-clearing triple by senior Justin Valente (West Palm Beach, CA/Saint Andrews). Junior Weston Hawkins (Fleetwood, PA/Fleetwood) then singled Valente home, before Lawrence lifted a towering homer over the 20-foot fence in right to cap the rally.

After the Engineers tacked on a run in the bottom of the fifth, RIT charged right back with a five-run top of the sixth, to draw within 11-9. Sammon (Ridgefield, CT/Ridgefield) provided the big blow in the inning, emptying the bases with a double off the fence in right.

Freshman leadoff man Navada Waterman (Coudersport, PA/Coudersport) singled home a run in the seventh to cut the lead to 11-10, setting up the Tigers rally in the top of the ninth.

With two outs in the inning, an error and a double put runners on second and third for Waterman, who doubled down the line in right to give the visitors a 12-11 lead.

Junior lefty Brett Bouchard (Fairport, NY/Fairport) worked a perfect bottom of the ninth for the save.

Both teams are back in tomorrow afternoon for the final two games of the four-game set. RIT will be the home team in both contests. First pitch is scheduled for 1pm.