POTSDAM, N.Y. – Mike Nee and Joe Pagano each collected three hits to lead the Clarkson University baseball team to an 11-5 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), on Wednesday afternoon at Jack Phillips Stadium. With the win, the Golden Knights improve to 9-14 overall (5-7 Liberty League), while the Engineers drop to 12-15 (4-9 Liberty League).

Nee got the hosts going early, driving in the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning. His infield single brought home Kent Wilson, before Pagano singled home Colby Brouillette for a 2-0 lead after one.

The Golden Knights tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third, getting a run-scoring single from Sean Gill, before Doyle drew a bases-loaded walk for a 4-0 Clarkson advantage.

RPI scored its first run of the game in the top of the fourth, when graduate student Jake Defayette launched his team-leading seventh home run of the year.

Nee answered with a long ball in the bottom half of the frame, to retake a four-run lead (5-1).

After the Engineers plated a single run in the top of the fifth, Clarkson blew the game open in the bottom half, scoring six runs on four hits and two RPI errors. Doyle delivered the biggest hit of the frame, socking a three-run homer to left.

The Engineers pulled three back in the top of the sixth to cap the scoring in the contest. Will Thramann singled back through the box to score two runs, while Ayush Krishnappa brough Thramann across with a groundout to short.

Nicholas Hofacker (1-0) pitched a scoreless first inning to earn the victory in pre-determined staff outing. RPI starter Cooper Hay (0-1) surrendered two runs on three hits in 1.0 inning of work, striking out two and walking one.

RPI is back on the diamond on Saturday, when it opens a three-game series with area-rival Union College at Shuttleworth Park in Amsterdam (1pm). Clarkson travels to Ithaca for three this weekend, beginning with two on Saturday (1pm).