TROY, N.Y. – Freshman Christopher Palmiero earned his first collegiate victory on the mound to help the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team to a doubleheader split with Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), on Monday at Robison Field. The Engineers, who are now 6-12 overall (1-3 Liberty League), won Game 2, 4-2, after dropping the opener, 3-2. The Tigers move to 7-5 (3-1 Liberty League).

Game 1 featured strong pitching performances on both sides, with RIT sophomore Daniel Zeglen (Scotia, NY/Scotia-Glenville) picking up the win. He allowed two runs on three hits in 4.2 innings, striking out two an walking two.

RPI sophomore Patrick McMackin (South Burlington, VT/South Burlington) was the tough luck loser, giving up three runs on six hits in a 6.0-inning complete game. He struck out nine batters without a walk, throwing 77 pitches.

Senior Sean Welling (Baltimore, MD/Loch Raven) doubled home classmate Sam Lawrence (Chicago, IL/University of Chicago High School) for the game's first run in the top of the fourth.

The Tigers answered with a two-out rally in the bottom of the frame to take a 3-1 lead. Sophomore left fielder Patrick Mylott (Aurora, OH/Western Reserve Academy) took an 0-2 pitch to right for a two-run single, giving RIT a 2-1 advantage. Senior catcher Mike Myers (Hamlin, NY/Brockport) followed with a double to the gap in right, plating Mylott for the third run of the inning.

A double down the left field line by senior Justin Valente (West Palm Beach, FL/Saint Andrews) brought RPI within 3-2 in the fifth, but Tigers lefty Brett Bouchard (Fairport, NY/Fairport) came on to pitch the final 2.1 innings for the save. He did allow a baserunner and struck out one.

RIT struck for the first run in Game 2, when senior designated hitter Brett Kajganich (North Royalton, OH/Holy Name) brought home freshman Navada Waterman (Coudersport, PA/Coudersport) from third with a groundout to first in the bottom of the first inning.

The Engineers pulled even a half inning later, on an infield single by junior Christian Spagnuola (Commack, NY/Commack) that brought senior Yariel Jimenez (San Juan, Puerto Rico/Cupeyville) around to score.

After three scoreless frames, senior Jason Ramos (Brooklyn, NY/Xaverian) put RPI on top for good with a two-run single to center, scoring Lawrence and junior Weston Hawkins (Fleetwood, PA/Fleetwood) to make it 3-1.

RIT got one run back on a wild pitch in the seventh, but the Engineers got another big hit from Valente in the eighth, as his single up the middle scored Lawrence for a 4-2 advantage.

The Tigers nearly scored in the bottom of the eighth, but Hawkins threw out Kajganich at the plate, after Mylotte singled had singled to center. RIT then loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth, but senior righthander Adam Aponte (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh) was able to induce a fly out to left to secure the win.

Palmiero (Patterson, NY/Carmel) gave up just two runs (1 earned) on four hits in 6.2 innings. He struck out a career-high nine and walked four. Aponte, who earned his first save of the season, gave up four hits with two strikeouts and a walk.

Rensselaer is back on the diamond on Wednesday, when it hosts St. Lawrence for a doubleheader at Renwyck Field (2pm). RIT hosts St. John Fisher on Wednesday (3:30pm).