POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Sophomore Joseph Curci scored three runs and drove in the other two to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team to a 5-3 victory over Vassar College in Game 2 of a doubleheader at Prentiss Field. The Engineers, who lost game Game 1 by a score of 5-4, are now 10-10 on the year (6-4 Liberty League), while the Brewers move to 10-12 (4-6 Liberty League).

Curci opened the scoring in Game 2, driving in classmate Richard Drum with a first inning single. Later in the frame, he came home from third on a wild pitch, giving RPI an early 2-0 lead.

Freshman Jack Moncur tacked on a third run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the third, plating Curci, who had reached on a single up the middle to lead off the frame. Curci then drove in the Engineers' lone run in the fourth, doubling to the gap in left center to bring home junior Jack Vaccari.

Vassar answered with a three-run bottom of the fourth to draw within 4-3. An error plated the first run of the frame, before Matt Martino drove in a pair with a double down the left field line.

RPI junior righthander Christopher Palmiero then put up a pair of zeros in the fifth and sixth to conclude is outing. He allowed three runs (1 earned) on nine hits, striking out four and walking three.
Sophomore Chris Grome picked up his second save of the season, hurling 3.0 shutout innings to close out the contest. He allowed three hits and struck out three.

The Engineers added an insurance run in the top of the ninth, when senior Michael Aroboleda doubled down the line in left, scoring Curci for the third time in the game. Arboleda finished 2 for 3, while Curci was 3 for 4.

In Game 1, the Brewers battled back from a 3-0 deficit to hold on for a  5-4 win. RPI scored one run in the first inning on an RBI-double from senior Austin Lawrence.

Hudson Livesey and Noah Normyle each singled home runs in the third for a 3-0 lead, but Vassar put up a big fourth innings to take the lead. Evan Trausch got things started with an RBI-single to center, followed by a pair of runs on sacrifices. Sam Brinster capped the scoring in the inning with a pinch hit single to left.

Vassar got a much needed fifth run in the bottom of the fifth on a sac fly from Taylor Smach, as RPI was able to score one in the seventh, leaving the tying run on second base.

Junior Erick Zecha (0-4) surrendered five runs on seven hits over 5.0 innings. He struck out two and walked one. Sophomore Michael Castello came on in relief and pitched 2.0 scoreless innings, allowing two hits.

Max Spencer (1-1) earned the win the Brewers, giving up three runs on seven hits over 5.1 innings. He struck out five and walked four. Joe Conti picked up his first save of the season, allowing a run on two hits in 1.2 innings of work.

Both teams are back in action tomorrow afternoon for a doubleheader at Robison Field, in Troy (1pm).