TROY, N.Y. – Freshman Cole Paquin went 3 for 4 with a home run to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team to an 8-7 victory over Skidmore College in Game 2 of a doubleheader at Robison Field on Sunday afternoon. The Engineers, who dropped Game 1, 6-1, are now 5-5 overall and 1-1 in Liberty League play. The Thoroughbreds move to 6-4 on the year (1-1 Liberty League).

RPI broke onto the board with a three-run top of the second inning, beginning with an RBI-double off the bat of freshman catcher Jake Chekian doubled to left, scoring junior Jack Vaccari. Paquin later came in from third on a passed ball, before an opposite field two-bagger from classmate George Ranier plated Chekian.

The Thoroughbreds, who were designated as the home team for the two games, came back with one in the bottom of the frame on a home run by Sam Browning, drawing within 3-1.
Paquan got the run back for the Engineers with a base hit to center in the third, plating sophomore Richard Drum. Senior captain Austin Lawrence then hit his first home run of the year to make it 6-1 in the fourth.

Skidmore turned a three-run bottom of the fourth – all coming on one swing – when Justin LaRose drilled a three-run shot to left, pulling within 6-4.

Chekian pushed across a run with a single to right center, which scored Vacarri from second, after he doubled to lead off the frame.

The Thoroughbreds came right back in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with two away. Matt Chipkin then came through with a single between first and second, to make it a two-run contest again (7-5). RPI sophomore righthander Mike Tagaris then entered the game and induced a groundout on one pitch to end the threat.

Chipkin brought Skidmore with 7-6 in the bottom of the eighth, lifting a sacrifice fly to center, but William Snyder was caught in a rundown between second and third to end the inning.

Paquin launched his first career homer with two outs and a 2-0 count in the top of the ninth, adding an insurance run that ended coming into play in the bottom half.

A hit batter and a walk put two on for Skidmore in the bottom of the ninth, before a sacrifice bunt moved the tying run into the scoring position. Another hit by pitch filled the bases for pinch hitter Sean Lang, who drove in a run on a fielder's choice, cutting the deficit to one. RPI freshman reliever Aidan Safar was able to close out the frame, however, inducing a flyout to deep right.

In Game 1, Skidmore's Pat Geiger and Will Potter hit back-to-back homers in the bottom of the first and never relinquished the lead.

After RPI plated a single run in the top of the third on a Jake Defayette RPI-single, LaRose plated an answering run in the bottom half with a single to right.

The Thoroughbreds tacked on two more in the fourth and another in the sixth to open up a 6-1 advantage.

RPI was stymied by Skidmore righthander Jay Gamboa (3-0), who tossed a four-hitter, allowing a single run, with eight strikeouts and one walk. Engineers starter Erick Zecha (0-3) surrendered five runs on seven hits over 3.0 innings. He struck out one and walked four.

Both teams are back in action tomorrow afternoon, closing out the four-game set with a twin bill at Robison Field (2pm).