TROY, N.Y. – Senior Alex Parkos hit a home run and drove in four runs to lead the Eastern Connecticut State baseball team to a 12-3 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), in a non-league game at Robison Field on Wednesday afternoon. With the win, the Warriors improve to 14-13 overall, while the Engineers drop to 11-13.

Eastern Connecticut came back from a 3-1 deficit in the eighth inning, scoring three in the eighth and eight in the ninth to pull away for the victory. Parkos (Meriden, CT/Xavier) tied the game at 3-3 with a two-run double in the top of the eighth, before sophomore Jack Rich (Meriden, CT/Wilcox Tech) doubled-home Parkos for a 4-3 lead later in the frame.

The Warriors then plated eight runs in the ninth on just four hits. After a sacrifice fly from William Coleman (Northford, CT/North Branford), Parkos launched a two-run homer to left for a 7-3 lead. Freshman Dean Slavin (Tappan, NY/Tappan Zee) followed with an RBI-double – the first hit of his collegiate career – the add another run, before a bases loaded walk and a three-run double off the bat of junior John Mesagno (Tappan, NY/St. Joseph Regional) capped the scoring.

RPI jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, thanks to an RBI-single from freshman Cole Paquin (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) and a run-scoring groundout by sophomore Joseph Curci (Chicago, IL/University of Chicago High School).

A solo home run by Eastern Connecticut freshman Matt Malcom (East Lyme, CT/East Lyme) cut the deficit to 2-1 in the top of the second.

Following five scoreless frames, the Engineers pushed their lead to 3-1 in the seventh, thanks to a Paquin sac fly that brought home classmate Jack Moncur (Burlington, ON/Notre Dame Catholic).

Sophomore Richard Drum (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) went 2 for 4 with a walk and a run, while Moncur was 2 for 3 with a run. On the hill, sophomore Thomas Neuman (Fort Lauderdale, FL/Westminster Academy) worked a scoreless fourth inning, striking out the side, while classmate Jake Nichols (Granby, CT/Granby Memorial) threw 3.0 shutout innings, allowing one hit and striking out one.

Warriors sophomore Bryan Albee (Killingly, CT/Killingly) allowed one run on three hits over 5.0 innings of relief, striking out six and walking one. Senior Cole Ogorzalek (Portland, CT/Portland) earned the victory, pitching 2.0 shutout innings. He had one strikeout and didn't walk a batter.

The Engineers are back on the diamond on Friday, when they open up a four-game series with St. Lawrence University (1pm). Eastern Connecticut hosts Plymouth State for two on Friday (3:30pm).