TROY, N.Y. – Eleven players recorded hits for the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team, which saw a balanced attack defeat Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), 11-5, in non-conference action at chilly Robison Field on Thursday afternoon. With the win, the Engineers improve to 11-8 overall, while the Trailblazers drop to 8-6.

After a scoreless opening four innings, RPI's bats came alive in the fifth and did not slow down. Freshman Hudson Livesey (Delmar, NY/St. Petersburgh) got things started with an infield single that drove in the game's first run, before junior Michael Arboleda (Wappingers Falls, NY/John Jay) plated a pair with a base hit to right.

MCLA answered with a single run in the top of the sixth, but the Engineers answered with three in the bottom half, highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of senior captain Christian Spagnuola (Commack, NY/Commack), for a 6-1 lead.

Junior Austin Lawrence (East Greenbush, NY/Columbia) gave the hosts a 7-1 lead with a single up the middle in the bottom of the seventh, before senior captain J.T. Sawyer (Johnsonville, NY/Hoosic Valley) drove in RPI's eighth run with a fielder's choice to short.

The Trailblazers got one run back in the top of the eighth, but a three-run bottom half gave the Engineers an 11-2 advantage after eight. Junior Eric Zeppa (Long Beach, NY/Long Beach) lifted an RBI-single down the right field line, followed by a two-run double to the gap in right center by Lawrence.

MCLA scored three runs on four hits in the top of the ninth, before RPI senior Aaron Kalish (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) was able to pick up a strikeout to end the game.

Junior righthander Patrick McMackin (South Burlington, VT/South Burlington) took a no decision, working 4.0 scoreless inning. He struck out five and walked five, while allowing only two hits. Freshman lefty Chris Grome (Framingham, MA/Dexter Southfield School) earned his first collegiate victory, allowing one run on four hits over 3.0 innings. He struck out four without a walk. Classmate Glubis Romero (Woodhaven, NY/The School for CTEA) surrendered a run on one hit in the eighth.

The Engineers are back in action on Saturday, when they open a three-game series with NYU (1pm). That doubleheader is followed by a single game on Sunday (12pm). MCLA hosts Fitchburg State for two on Saturday (1pm).