TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team rallied for nine unanswered runs after a rough start, but ultimately came up short in a 16-10 non-conference loss to Middlebury this afternoon at Robison Baseball Field.
Middlebury struck first with a run in the top of the first, but the Engineers responded immediately in the bottom half as
Andrew Crux singled and
Michael Lebenson roped an RBI double to right-center to bring Crux home and tie the game, 1-1.
The Panthers seized control with a massive 10-run second inning, highlighted by three home runs and a string of extra-base damage that pushed the score to 11-1. Middlebury added five more in the third to extend the margin to 16-1.
RPI didn't fold, answering with a run in the third and then erupting for five in the fourth to regain some momentum. In the third, Crux and Lebenson singled and
Ben Belliss followed with a base hit to load the bases before Crux scored on a fielder's choice paired with an error.
The Engineers' biggest surge came in the fourth as Middlebury issued a flurry of walks and RPI made them pay.
Jack Mullins drew a leadoff walk, and after a double play briefly slowed the inning, RPI loaded the bases with a hit by pitch and back-to-back walks. Belliss and
Matt Chotiner worked consecutive RBI walks,
Alex Coombes followed with another run-scoring walk, and
Charlie Morse capped the frame with an RBI single, plus an additional run scoring on an error, to make it 16-7.
RPI continued to chip away in the fifth with a three-run inning.
Walker Abdallah walked and stole second and third before Lebenson delivered an RBI double to right, and Belliss then launched a two-run homer to left-center to trim the deficit to 16-10. The Engineers had chances to close the gap further, including a runner reaching in the sixth and another opportunity in the seventh after Belliss doubled into scoring position, but Middlebury's bullpen kept RPI off the board the rest of the way to preserve the final.
Belliss highlighted the offense, finishing 3-for-4 with a double, home run, and a team-high three RBI, while Lebenson went 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI. Crux reached base three times, scored three runs, and collected two hits, and Abdallah scored twice while adding a hit, a walk, and a pair of stolen bases.
RPI will look ahead to a three-game Liberty League series at Clarkson this Saturday and Sunday.
