TROY, N.Y. - Thomas Neuman allowed just six hits and no runs over 7.0 innings and the first three batters in the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) lineup combined for seven hits, five runs, and five runs batted in as the Engineers defeated Keene State College 11-2 in the first game of a non-league doubleheader. Game two featured a 3 for 4, two-run, two-RBI effort from Martin Marintchev and Rensselaer (7-4-1) defeated the Owls (4-7) 9-1. 

Martinchev, who batted third in the first game and cleanup in the nightcap, finished 6 for 9 with four runs and four RBI in the two games. The Engineers knocked out 26 hits in the two games, including 16 in the opener, during which they jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning.

RPI manufactured its first three runs beginning with a walk to Jack Moncur and a single by Ayush Krishnappa. A sacrifice bunt by Cole Paquin turned into a single and a Moncur run before Robbie Reddington sacrificed Krishnappa to third and Paquin to second. The duo moved up a base on a wild pitch and Aidan Hicks plated Paquin with a safety squeeze bunt.

The Engineers added two runs in the fifth inning with a Marintchev double and a run by the senior on a wild pitch. They made it 11-0 when they scored six times on six straight hits with two outs in the sixth inning. The Owls had a chance to get out of the inning without allowing any runs but a two-out fly ball to center field was lost in the sun, resulting in an RBI double for Aidan Hicks. The next five batters got hits, including a two-run double to left center field by Julian Scarpa that put the home team up by double digits.

Hicks, the leadoff hitter, was 2 for 3 with two runs and two RBI; George Rainer, the No. 2 batter, was 2 for 4 with a run and a run batted in; and Marintchev was 3 for 5 with a two runs and two RBI. Scarpa, Moncur, and Paquin also had two hits to back Neuman (3 strikeouts, 1 walk) and three relievers. 

Sophomore righthander Rylan Wade gave up just three hits and one run over 6.0 innings to lead RPI. He struck out six and walked just one before giving way to Evan Mahns, who pitched a perfect seventh in RPI's 9-1 win. 

Rensselaer tied the game at 1-1 in the third inning and then took a 4-1 lead with a three-run fourth. Marintchev started the frame with a single and later scored on a triple by Jake Contois. Matt Chotiner plated Contois with a single to center and Hicks added an RBI single.

A five-run sixth inning was highlighted by a two-RBI single to left by Marintchev, who eventually scored on a ground out by Scarpa.

Brendan Muhs suffered the loss for Keene State, who got single hits from three batters, including a home run from Jonathan Chatfield. He also had a hit with a run in the opener.