TROY, N.Y. - Skidmore College knocked out 24 runs on 26 hits and the Thoroughbreds took both games of a doubleheader against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 11-4 and 13-7, in the first Liberty League games of the season for both squads.

Skidmore, which got four hits, six runs, and five runs batted in from Jackson Hornung, improves to 10-4 overall, while the Engineers fall to 8-6-1.

A senior catcher/first baseman, Hornung was 3 for 4 with two home runs, a triple, four runs, and four RBI in the opener before collecting a single in two at bats with two runs and a run knocked in in the second game. Sam Kornet, who played first and DHed, added six hits in nine at bats with three runs and eight batted in on the day. He homered in both games.

RPI was led offensively by George Rainer and Martin Marintchev, the number 2 and number 3 batters in the lineup. Rainer, a shortstop, was 5 for 8 with three runs and three RBI in the twinbill and Marintchev, the DH in the first game and first baseman in the second, was also 5 for 8, along with two runs and two runs batted in. 

The visitors jumped out to a 5-0 lead after three innings in the first game, including a two-run home run by Hornung in the first inning, and led 6-0 before RPI got on the board with two runs in the fifth. Rainer doubled to right field to score Robbie Reddington and later came around on an RBI ground out by Marintchev.

Jaden Torrado homered for Skidmore in the eighth inning to make it 7-2, but the Engineers plated two in their half. A four-run ninth by the Thoroughbreds concluded the scoring, highlighted by a two-run double by Kornet.

Quinn Hocom pitched five innings to earn the win with Thomas Neuman, who also went five innings, suffering the loss.

Skidmore's Ameer Hasan overcame a rocky start to pitch a complete game in the nightcap. He allowed seven runs (4 in the first inning) and 12 hits but did not walk any batters with six strikeouts. 

Once again the Thoroughbreds jumped out in front, this time with a seven-run first that included a two-run triple by Ewen Donald. RPI countered with four runs in their half, three of which came off a home run to right centerfield by Joey Saia.

Marintchev scored on a double by Ayush Krishnappa in the third to make it 7-4, but the visitors put up four in the fourth for an 11-4 lead. Kornet had a three-run homer in the frame.

Two RPI runs in the bottom of the fourth made it 11-6 but that is as close as it would come in the seven-inning contest.

Starter Rylan Wade took the loss for the Engineers, who used four pitchers. 

The same two teams meet again for a single game on Sunday at 1pm in Troy.