TROY, N.Y. – Junior Ben Koomey threw 6.2 hitless innings of relief to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team to a come-from-behind 6-4 victory over Union College, on Sunday afternoon at Robison Field at Karl Steffen Ballpark. With the win, the Engineers improve to 14-16 overall (6-10 Liberty League), while the Dutchmen drop to 14-16 (8-10 Liberty League).

Union got the scoring started early, plating a pair in the top of the first. The Dutchmen loaded the bases with nobody out and got an RBI-single from senior Colby Nash (Delmar, NY / Bethlehem) to score the first run of the contest. Sophomore Thomas Parsisi (Somers, NY / Somers) followed with a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 advantage.

Graduate student Joseph Curci (Chicago, IL / University of Chicago High School) drove in RPI's first run in the bottom of the second, singling to right to bring home classmate Jake Defayette (Schenectady, NY / Schalmont), who doubled earlier in the inning.

The Dutchmen opened up a 4-1 lead in the top of the third, getting another sac fly from Parisi with the bases loaded, in front of a runs-scoring groundout from senior Justin Cabanas (Wayne, NJ / Don Bosco Prep).

Koomey (Arlington, VA / Yorktown) entered the game with one away in the third and was dominant the rest of the way, paving the way for an RPI comeback.

The Engineers got one run back in the bottom of the third on an RBI-groundout from Martin Marinchev (Belmont, NY / Belmont), to draw within 4-2. Two innings later, junior Joey Saia (Voorheesville, NY / Clayton A. Bouton) singled-home freshman Aidan Hicks (Pound Ridge, NY / Fox Lane) to cut the RPI deficit to one (4-3).

Rensselaer then took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth, scoring a pair of runs. With one out and runners on first and second, Curci singled up the middle to drive in his second run of the game and tie the contest at 4-4. With runners now on the corners, freshman Ayush Krishnappa (Redmond, WA / Tesla Stern) dropped down a squeeze bunt that plated senior Jack Moncur (Burlington, ON / Notre Dame Catholic) for a 5-4 lead.

Marinchev added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh, launching his third home run of the year to deep left.

Koomey (3-2) allowed just two walks over 6.2 innings of relief, striking out four. Starter Alex Vallee (Greenwich, NY / Schuylerville) surrendered four runs on seven hits in 2.1 innings. Union reliever Kyle Patlove (Bala Cynwyd, PA / Lower Merion) was issued the loss, giving up three runs on three hits over 3.2 innings. He struck out two and walked one.

RPI is back in action next Saturday, when it opens up its Liberty League crossover series at the University of Rochester. The winner of the best-of-three matchup with advance to the conference tournament. Union heads to Ithaca College for its crossover series on Saturday. First pitch is set for 1pm.