ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Senior Daniel Zeglen threw a complete game to lead the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) baseball team to an 11-3 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), in a Liberty League Tournament elimination game, Friday at Towers Field. With the win, the Tigers improve to 22-17 overall, while the Engineers conclude their season at 20-19.
Zeglen (Scotia, NY/Scotia-Glenville) allowed three runs on nine hits over 9.0 innings, striking out two and walking three. RPI sophomore
Ryan Yerby (Montara, CA/Half Moon Bay) took the loss, surrendering seven runs (5 earned) on nine hits over 2.2 innings. He struck out three and walked one.
After a scoreless first inning, RIT plated four in the bottom of the second. Junior Navada Waterman (Coudersport, PA/Coudersport) hit a ground rule triple to the left field corner, scoring classmate Kyle Terzini (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) and freshman Ian Libby (Melrose, MA/Malden Catholic). After a walk, the Tigers orchestrated a double-steal, with Waterman coming home on the play. Freshman Patrick Blackall (Hershey, PA/Hershey) completed the rally with an RBI-double to left.
A three-run third followed, giving the Tigers a 7-0 lead. Senior Patrick Mylott (Aurora, OH/Western Reserve Academy) led off the frame with a solo home run to center, before Terzini drove in a run with a double. Waterman then reached on an infield single to score Terzini from third.
Rensselaer freshman
George Rainer (Mount Sinai, NY/Mount Sinai) started a fifth inning rally by singling with one away. Sophomore
Jake Defayette (Schenectady, NY/Schalmont) followed with a double to the gap in left center, before senior captain
Austin Lawrence (East Greenbush, NY/Columbia) drove in the pair with a single up the middle. The two-run inning brought the Engineers within 7-2.
The Tigers struck for four in the bottom of the seventh to put the game out of reach. Blackall started the scoring in the frame with a single up the middle that brought home Terzini. Zeglen then helped himself at the plate, doubling off the top of the fence, scoring two. A ground rule double from Mylott made it 11-2.
RPI did not go down quietly in the ninth, scoring a run on three hits. Sophomore
Richard Drum (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) doubled with one out, before classmate
Peter Close (Guilderland, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) singled between second and third. Rainer then came through with two-out single to right, plating Drum to draw within 11-3.
Four RIT batters recorded three-hit games, including Blackall, who went 3 for 6 with a double, a run and two runs batted in. Rainer finished 3 for 4 with a run and an RBI, while Drum went 2 for 3 with a double, a run and a walk.
The Tigers will face the loser of the University of Rochester vs. Clarkson University game at 6pm.
