AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Sophomore Erick Zecha allowed two earned run over seven innings and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team scored six first inning runs in defeating Central College, 7-5, on Monday afternoon at Lake Myrtle Sports Complex. With the win, the Engineers improve to 2-3, while the Dutch drop to 7-4.

After allowing a first inning run, RPI put up six in the bottom half of the inning. Senior Weston Hawkins walked with one out in front of an Ethann Meister single, which sent Hawkins to third. Freshman Richard Drum then lifted a sacrifice fly to left to bring in the first run of the frame.

Sophomore Noah Normyle walked on a full count and junior Eric Zeppa singled in Meister for a 2-1 advantage. A hit batter and a walk scored the third run of the inning, before a wild pitch brought home a fourth. Freshman Jake Defayette then capped the rally with a two-run double to right.

The Dutch got a run back in the top of the third, when shortstop Garrett Saunders doubled to right center, stole third and came around on a throwing error.

A Joe Rebik RBI-single brought the visitors within 6-3 in the top of the sixth, before Coy Moore made it a two-run game (6-4) with a run-scoring base hit in the seventh.

Senior J.T. Sawyer gave RPI back its three-run cushion with an infield single in bottom half of the frame. With runners on first and third, Zeppa was put in motion from first, taking away Saunder's play at the bag and allowing Meister to trot home from third.

Central saw its first two batters reach in the top of the eighth on an error and a hit, chasing Zecha from the hill. Freshman lefty Chris Grome was able to pick up a strike out, before Kyle Crampton doubled past the third base bag to pull within 7-5. A flyout to left and another strikeout left two stranded in scoring position.

Freshman righthander Glubis Romero came on in the ninth to earn his first collegiate save, allowing one hit.

Zeppa finished 2 for 3 with a walk, a run and a run batted in. Meister went 2 for 5 with two runs, while Defayette wound up 1 for 3 with a double, a walk and two RBI. Zecha (1-0) allowed five runs (2 earned) over 7.0 innings, with four strikeouts and two walks.

Pacing the Dutch was Saunders, who was 3 for 5 with two doubles and a triple, while Crampton went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Central starter AJ Pierce (0-1) gave up six runs on five hits over 5.0 innings, with two strikeouts and three walks. He also hit three batters.

The Engineers are back in action tomorrow morning against Beloit College (9am). Central takes on Olivet College tomorrow at noon.