POTSDAM, N.Y. - Sophomore Ryan Yerby threw his team-best third complete game of the year to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team to a 2-1 victory over Clarkson University in Game 1 of a doubleheader on Sunday. The Engineers, who dropped Game 2, 6-5, are now 15-15 overall (11-7 Liberty League), while the Golden Knights are 17-13 (11-5 Liberty League).

Yerby worked all 7.0 innings, shutting the hosts down after allowing a first inning run on a single by Mike Nee. He allowed the one run on eight hits, with four strikeouts and two walks. Ryan Riley (5-4) was the tough luck loser, surrendering two runs on five hits in 7.0 innings. He struck out 10 and walked one.

Trailing 1-0 in the second, the Engineers tied the game on an RBI-single off the bat of freshman third baseman Jack Moncur. He plated Richard Drum, who had reached on a single of his own.

RPI took the lead for good in the top of the third, thanks to a double to the gap in left center from sophomore Joseph Curci. Senior captain Austin Lawrence, who singled with one out in the inning, scored all the way from first base.

The Golden Knights put a pair of runners on with just one out in the seventh, but Yerby was able to induce a pop up and a ground out to end the threat and the game.

In the nightcap, Clarkson jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, scoring one in the first and two in the third. Brad Pearson provided two of the runs, lifting a sacrifice fly in the first and ripping an RBI-double in the third.

The Engineers came storming back in the fifth, scoring five runs on five hits and one Golden Knights error. Loading the bases with two away, a fielding error allowed the inning to continue and the visitors to get on the board at 3-1. Sophomore Jake Defayette then tied the game with a two-run double to left center, before Lawrence plated two more with a single to left.

Clarkson came back to tie the game at 5-5 in the seventh, as Pearson struck for an RBI-double in front of a base hit from Michael Mieczkowski that scored Pearson.

Pearson then provided the go-ahead sac fly in the eighth, before Mark Connor (2-3) was able to shut the door in the ninth to secure the win. He went 4.0 innings, allowing just one hit and striking out three in relief. Chris Grome (0-1) took the loss for RPI, giving up an unearned run on three hits in 0.2 innings.

Both teams are back in action tomorrow afternoon for second Liberty League doubleheader (12pm).