TROY, N.Y. – Sophomore Joseph Curci hit a three-run, walk-off home run, to send the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team to a 7-4 victory over Elms College, on Wednesday afternoon at Robison Field. With the win, the Engineers improve to 4-4, while the Blazers drop to 2-8.

RPI came back from deficits of 2-0 and 3-2 to tie the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth. Freshman Cole Paquin (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) lifted a single to center that brought home senior Michael Aroboleda (Wappingers Falls, NY/John Jay).

The Engineers then took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the eighth, when sophomore catcher Hudson Livesey (Delmar, NY/St. Petersburgh) ripped a single up the middle to plate senior captain Austin Lawrence (East Greenbush, NY/Columbia) from third.

Elms came back to knot the score at 4-4 in the top of the ninth. Nathan Ayala (Springfield, MA/Chicopee) singled with one out in the frame, before a groundout moved him to second. Pinch-hitter Josh Nohilly (Bristol, CT/Bristol Eastern) the came through with a single up the middle to bring home the tying run.

In the bottom of the ninth, sophomore Jake Defayette (Schenectady, NY/Schalmont) led off the frame by walking on four pitches. Freshman pinch-hitter Phillip Li (Forrest Hills, NY/Hunter College High School) then dropped down a sacrifice bunt, before junior Jack Vaccari (Hopkinton, MA/Hopkinton) walked to fill first. Curci (Chicago, IL/University of Chicago High School) followed by lacing a 2-1 pitch over the fence in left for a three-run homer – the first of his RPI career.

Freshman Aidan Safar (Toronto, ON/Nelson) earned the win in relief, throwing just four pitches to get the final out of the top of the ninth. Sophomore Michael Castello (Pearl River, NY/Nanuet) pitched a team-high 3.0 innings, allowing a run on three hits, with one strikeout.

Mickey Howe (South Winsor, CT/East Catholic) took the loss for the Blazers, surrendering three runs on one hit. Starter Brandon Bennett (Easthampton, MA/Easthampton) surrendered two runs on three over 5.0 innings. He struck out four and walked three.

The Engineers are back in action this weekend, when they host Skidmore College for four games, beginning on Saturday at 12pm. Elms welcomes Eastern Nazarene on Saturday at 12pm.