TROY, N.Y. - Junior righthander Brendan McNerney took a perfect game into the sixth inning to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team to a 1-0 victory over Clarkson University, before the Engineers (17-18; 10-9 Liberty League) fell to the Golden Knights (13-15; 8-10 Liberty League), 5-4, in the nightcap of a doubleheader at Robison Field. 

McNerney allowed his first baserunner with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning of game one, when Mike Messier hit a ball sharply past RPI senior third baseman J.T. Sawyer and down the left field line for a double. Brad Pearson then flied out to deep center to end the inning. 

Clarkson then put two runners on with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but McNerney (3-4) was able to shut the door with a strikeout and a flyout. He finished with five punchouts on the afternoon, with just one walk over the 7.0-inning complete game shutout. His counterpart, Will Coleman (1-4), suffered the tough luck loss, giving up just one run on five hits over 7.0 innings. He struck out eight and walked one.

Rensselaer senior shortstop Ethann Meister provided all the offense needed in the top of the third inning, when he launched his team-leading sixth home run over the left field fence after two were set down via strikeouts. Swinging at the first pitch he saw, Meister belted his third homer in the last four games.

Game two saw five lead changes and three ties, with the Golden Knights answering each time the Engineers pulled even. RPI took its only lead in the top of the second on a sacrifice fly off the bat of senior captain Christian Spagnuola that plated junior Austin Lawrence from third.

Clarkson immediately tied the score at 2-2 in the bottom half, thanks to an RBI-double from third baseman Michael Tito, scoring Nolan Duda. A Nate Burns solo homer in the bottom of the fourth made it a 3-2 advantage for the Golden Knights.

RPI drew even (3-3) in the top of the seventh, when pinch hitter Michael Arboleda singled to left, scoring Jack Vaccari, but Spagnuola was thrown out attempting to advance to third, ending the frame.

A passed ball in the seventh gave Clarkson the lead back at 4-3, but the Engineers took advantage of an error on the infield to knot the score back up at 4-4.

The Golden Knights put two runners on with two outs in the bottom of the eighth and were able to scratch a run across on an RPI throwing error with down in the inning for a 5-4 advantage. Rensselaer got the tying run aboard with two outs in to the top of the ninth, but Clarkson reliever Mark Connor (2-2) was able to end the threat and earn the victory on the hill. He allowed one unearned run on two hits over 2.0 innings with three strikeouts and one walk.

Sophomore Erick Zecha (4-3) took the loss for the Engineers, giving up five runs (2 earned) on six hits over 7.1 innings. He struck out five and walked three. Vaccari finished 2 for 4 with two runs scored, while Austin was 1 for 4 with a run. Clarkson was led by Tito, who went 2 for 3 with an RBI and Burns, who was 1 for 4 with a homer and two runs scored.

Rensselaer is back on the diamond next weekend, when it closes out its regular season schedule with a home-and-home series with Union College, beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday at Robison Field (12pm). Clarkson open a home-and-home of its own with rival St. Lawrence on Saturday in Potsdam (12pm).