AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Sophomore Christopher Palmiero threw a complete game shutout to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team to a 7-0 victory over Gordon College on Sunday night at Lake Myrtle Sports Complex. With the win, the Engineers improve to 1-3, while the Scots drop to 1-5.

Palmiero tossed his second career shutout, while setting a new collegiate-high with 11 strikeouts over the 9.0 innings. He allowed just six hits and did not walk a batter, finishing with 110 pitches.

RPI got off to a hot start, plating three runs in the bottom of the first. Junior Austin Lawrence led off the game with a walk and immediately came around to score on a double by senior Weston Hawkins. After freshman Richard Drum walked with one away, junior Eric Zeppa then drove home a pair with a single to right.

Lawrence brought home the Engineers' fourth run in the bottom of the fourth, singling just out of the reach of Gordon second baseman John Lagerfeldt to score Zeppa from third.

In the RPI sixth, freshman Jake Defayette drove a ball to left that was mishandled, allowing Zeppa to come around to score. Lawrence then ripped a sharp single to center, plating Defayette to make it 6-0.

A wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh allowed senior captain JT Sawyer to come home from third, capping the scoring.

Gordon freshman righthander Mark Gadaleta (0-1) suffered the loss in his first collegiate start, surrendering four runs on four hits over 3.0 innings. He struck out three and walked four. Travis Benoit was the lone Scots batter with multiple hits, going 2 for 3.

RPI saw Zeppa go 2 for 2 with two walks, two runs and two runs batted in. Drum went 2 for 3 with two walks and a run, while Lawrence was 2 for 4 with a walk, a run and two RBI out of the leadoff spot.

The Engineers are back on the diamond tomorrow afternoon, when they take on Central College at Lake Myrtle Sports Complete (Field #7). Gordon takes on Springfield on Tuesday (10am).