Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 TROY, N.Y. – Hitting the field for the first time in over two weeks, the Clarkson University Baseball team split with the Rensselaer Engineers on Wednesday afternoon. The Golden Knights took game one 5-2 in extra innings before the Engineers won game two 4-1.
Clarkson is now 5-5 (1-1 Liberty League) while RPI now stands at 9-3 (1-1). The Knights will travel for a pair of doubleheaders this weekend against Vassar College while RPI will take on Skidmore College in a doubleheader tomorrow afternoon.
Sophomore Greg Jasek (Chittenango, NY) was solid on the mound in the game one complete game effort. He struck out nine batters and allowed only one earned run on seven hits. He also scored the game-winning run after reaching on a fielder's choice in the top of the eighth inning.
With the first game of the double header scheduled for seven innings, the two teams were tied at 2-2. In extra innings it was junior Nolan Driscoll (Troy, NY) who put the Knights ahead for good. After Jasek reached on a fielder's choice, an intentional walk to freshman Chris Miller (Ballston Lake, NY) and a free pass to senior Jarrod Mattingly (Philadelphia, NY) loaded the bases with two outs. Playing in his hometown, Driscoll ripped a bases-clearing three RBI double to left center to give Clarkson the 5-2 lead. Jasek would slam the door shut on the Engineers in the bottom of the frame, picking up two of his nine strikeouts in the bottom of the eighth to secure his first victory on the season.
RPI got on the board in the first inning with an RBI single to center, but that would be the only earned run Jasek would allow all day. Clarkson would tie the game at 1-1 when senior Dan Lenney (Clifton Park, NY) ripped an RBI double down the right field line to score senior David Wixted (Ballston Lake, NY). The Green and Gold would take the lead when sophomore Anthony Padrazo (Setaucket, NY) singled to left, scoring Driscoll. The lead would not last as RPI tied the game in the bottom of the frame as a sacrifice bunt attempt was thrown away, allowing the Engineers to tie the game at 2-2. Driscoll and Lenney combined for four doubles and knocked in four runs in game one.
Senior Pete Roma (Endicott, NY) took the mound in game two and gave up seven hits and three walks on the afternoon. RPI scored all four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. An error to start the inning was followed by a fly out. A single from Tyler Listing would give the Engineers runners on second and third as Listing would advance to second base as Clarkson attempted to nab the runner at third. An intentional walk loaded the bases, but Roma would walk the following batter to force in the game's first run. The next batter would hit a sacrifice fly to double the RPI lead to 2-0 with two outs. Another walk would load the bases and Andrew Kalish would come up with a two-out single to score two runs and give RPI the 4-0 lead.
Clarkson would get one run back in the sixth inning when Jasek singled home Padrazo, but the Knights could not do anymore damage in the frame and RPI retired Clarkson in order in the seventh inning to secure the victory.
Â
Junior John Coleman (Potsdam, NY) had two of Clarkson's four hits in the second game, but Sean Conroy proved to be too much on the bump for the Engineers as he went all seven innings, striking out nine and allowing just the one run to earn the win.
