TROY, N.Y. - Senior shortstop Ethann came through with a walk-off double and sophomore Erick Zecha hurled a compete game shutout in the nightcap to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI0 baseball team to a doubleheader sweep of Skidmore College on Sunday afternoon at Robison Field. With wins of 4-3 and 3-0, the Engineers improve to 7-6 overall (3-1 Liberty League), while the Thoroughbreds drop to 6-8 (1-3 Liberty League).

In Game 1, freshman lefthander Chris Grome bounced back from a bumpy first inning in which he yielded a run on two hit batters and a wild pitch. He then settled in, allowing just three hits and zero runs until his departure in the fifth inning, finishing the day with 4.1 innings pitched, three hits, two runs (one earned), one walk, and one strikeout.
 
RPI's bats came alive in the fourth inning, turning a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead. Thanks to a hit and two walks, the Engineers loaded the bases with two outs. Senior Weston Hawkins stepped up and delivered a single to right, driving home two runs for a 2-1 advantage. Hawkins finished the day 1 for 2 with two walks and two RBI.
 
After Grome left in the fifth, senior Nick Pacifico took to the mound with a runner on first and one out. Pacifico gave two runs in the inning, both unearned (one run was charged to Grome). From there, Pacifico was solid, finishing his day with 4.2 innings pitched, two hits, one run (zero earned), one walk, and three strikeouts.
 
Trailing 3-2 in the seventh, RPI was looking for some offense to force extras. Freshman Richard Drum provided that, sending a ball to the infield which led to an error, scoring Hawkins from second on the play.
 
Meister came through in the bottom of the ninth inning for the Engineers, launching a double to center that scored Austin Lawrence for the walk-off win. Chris Reenstierna (0-1) was saddled with the loss for the Thoroughbreds.

In Game 2, Zecha allowed just five hits and three walks over 7.0 innings to improve to 3-0 on the young season. He struck out three batters, including one with two runners on in the top of the seventh to help preserve the win. He then induced a game-ending 4-6-3 double play to seal the series victory.

Rensselaer busted opened a pitchers' duel in the fifth inning platting three runs on four hits. With one out in the frame, senior Christian Spagnuola doubled to the gap in right center, before classmate Nick Busby doubled off the right field fence for a 1-0 lead. A Hawkins single put runners on the corners. An RBI-groundout from Lawrence was followed by a double down the left field line from Meister to cap the rally.

Both teams went down in order in the sixth, setting up a seventh inning comeback attempt from the Thoroughbreds. A leadoff walk to pinch hitter Justin Bottcher was followed by a strikeout and a walk to Will Potter, putting two on with one away. Hayden Smith then hit a bounding ball to second that Lawrence turned into a game-ending double play.

Thoroughbreds starter Spencer Meyer (0-1) allowed three runs on seven hits over 5.0 innings, with three strikeout and no walks. Potter paced Skidmore offensive in the nightcap, going 1 for 2 with a walk. RPI was led by Lawrence and Meister, who were each 1 for 3 with an RBI. Spagnuola and Busby each went 1 for 2 with a run.

The Engineers are back on the diamond this week, when they host Rochester for four games at Robison Field, starting with a doubleheader on Friday (1pm) and concluding with two more on Saturday (12pm). Skidmore hosts Castleton on Wednesday (4pm).