ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Junior third baseman Jason Schulz drove in the tying and winning runs to lead the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) baseball team to a 3-2 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), in the inaugural Liberty League Tournament Wild Card Game on Thursday morning at Towers Field. With the win, the Tigers improve to 19-15-1 and advance to the double-elimination round, while the Engineers conclude their season at 19-21.

Schulz (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) drew a bases-loaded walk with one and a full count in the bottom of the ninth inning to break a 2-2 tie. The frame opened with a walk to senior Dom Scialabba (North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick), which prompted an RPI pitching change to senior Nick Pacifico (Newburgh, NY/Wallkill). A bunt single and fielder's choice left two on and one away for Patrick Mylott (Aurora, OH/Western Reserve Academy), who worked a walk to fill the bases for Schulz. Pacifico got ahead on the count, 0-2, before Schultz worked back plate the winning run.

Rensselaer opened the scoring in the top of the third, when senior J.T. Sawyer (Johnsonville, NY/Hoosic Valley) backed up a double from classmate Weston Hawkins (Fleetwood, PA/Fleetwood) with one of his own, splitting the RIT left and right fielders for a 1-0 lead.

The Tigers answered in the bottom half of the inning, beginning with a leadoff single by sophomore Nevada Waterman (Coudersport, PA/Coudersport). A sacrifice bunt by sophomore Joey Mylott (Aurora, OH/Western Reserve Academy) was followed by an RBI-double from Patrick, tying the contest at one apiece.

After three scoreless frames, the Engineers retook the lead in the seventh, thanks to a run-scoring single to left by sophomore Jack Vaccari (Hopkinton, MA/Hopkinton) that brought home senior Ethann Meister (Santa Teresa, NM/Santa Teresa) from second.

RIT once again immediately tied things up in the bottom half, with Schulz providing the big hit – an opposite field base hit that plated Scialabba and knotted the game at 2-2.

Tigers lefty Brett Bouchard (Fairport, NY/Fairport) earned the win (2-2) in relief, allowing just a pair of hits and striking out four in 2.0 innings. Starter Brian Reed (Rochester, NY/Penfield) worked the opening 7.0 innings, giving up two runs on eight hits, with seven strikeouts and four walks.

Rensselaer sophomore Christopher Palmiero (Patterson, NY/Carmel) started and took a no-decision after surrendering two runs on six hits over 7.0 innings. He struck out nine and walked one, while tossing 101 pitches. Classmate Erick Zecha (Keene, NH/Keene) suffered the loss (4-5) in relief, giving up a run on one hit in 1.1 innings.

At the plate, RPI senior Christian Spagnuola (Commack, NY/Commack) was 3 for 3, while Sawyer was 4 for 5 with a run batted in. Vaccari finished 1 for 3 with an RBI. The Tigers were led by Waterman's 2 for 3 effort, while Patrick Mylott was 2 for 2 with a walk and a sacrifice.

RIT will face top seed and tournament host University of Rochester at 5pm.