TROY, N.Y. - Sophomore Christopher Palmiero hurled a shutout and senior Ethann Meister launched his team-leading fifth home run to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team to a 3-0 win over Clarkson University in the second game of a Liberty League doubleheader at Robison Field. The Engineers, who lost game one, 4-2, are now 16-17 overall (9-8 Liberty League), while the Golden Knights are 12-14 (7-9 Liberty League).

Palmiero (4-1) scattered six hits - all singles - over 9.0 innings for his second complete game shutout of the season. He struck out eight and walked one, holding the visitors without a multi-hit inning all day. Clarkson's biggest threat to score came in the in the eighth inning, when an error and a hit by Brad Pearon put runners on first and second with two away, but Palmiero was able to induce a fly out to end the frame.

RPI plated the game's first two runs in the bottom of the first inning on Meister's fifth homer of the year. Following a sharp single to center by classmate J.T. Sawyer, Meister lined the first pitch he saw over the fence in left.

The Engineers added an insurance run in the seventh, when sophomore Jack Vaccari drove in senior Weston Hawkins with a groundout to second.

Rory Corcoran (2-3) took the loss for the Golden Knights, surrendering two runs on five hits over 4.2 innings. He walked three and did not record a strikeout. 

In game one, RPI built a 2-0 lead in the second. Freshman Richard Drum was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, followed by a groundball double play off the bat of Eric Zeppa that brought home Vaccari from third.

Clarkson pulled one run back in the fourth on a single from Mike Krick, before taking the lead with a three run top of the fifth. Pearson reached on an error which allowed two runs to score, before a sacrifice fly from Vincent Granuzzo made it a 4-2 game. 

RPI did not muster a base runner over the final three innings, as Ryan Riley (3-2) finished off the complete game win. He surrendered just two runs on two hits over 7.0 innings, striking out five and walking two. Sophomore Griffin Kelley took a no-decision as the Rensselaer starter, giving up one run on four hits over 4.0 innings, with two strikeouts and one walk. Freshman Ryan Yerby (0-1) was saddled with the loss, allowing three runs (1 earned) on two hits in 0.2 innings of work.

Both teams are back in action tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at 12pm.