Williams Squeezes Out Win Over RPI
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The Ephs broke the scoreless game with a run in the second inning when junior Jimmy Ray doubled to the right-center gap allowing junior Chance Rueger to bring him home on a single.
The Ephs were back at it again in the third when freshman Phil McGovern slugged a two-out solo home run over the right field wall to give the Ephs a 2-0 lead.
Freshman Jared Jensen started on the mound for RPI and pitched three innings, while giving up two earned runs on five hits. Jensen added three strikeouts and a walk to his performance.
Freshman Adam Kalish relieved Jensen in the fourth going two innings giving up one run on one hit, adding 2 strikeouts and a walk. Another freshman Reid Roberge threw one inning, allowing two runs on three hits only to be relieved by senior captain Dan Duval. Duval was charged with the loss while going three innings allowing one run on four hits.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Engineers got on the board when junior Tanner Boucher reached on an error. Junior Chuck Erickson drew a walk. Then, both he and Boucher advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. Senior Art Levenson grounded out to second base, but he managed to bring home Boucher on the play. Junior Keith Malin reached base on a fielder’s choice, but Erickson was thrown out at the plate. Senior Kyle Kopacz singled to left and advanced Malin to second. Junior Kevin Prosicki batted in Malin on a single up the middle to tie the ball game. The Engineers pulled ahead as Kopacz reached home on a wild pitch.
Freshman Jacob Slater started for the Ephs and went five innings, allowing four runs on five hits.
Senior Matthew Berdoff relieved in the sixth allowing one run, one earned, on two hits and adding a walk. Senior Harry Marino threw a 1-2-3 eighth. Senior Ben Oliva earned the win when tossed in he bottom of the ninth giving up only one hit and no runs.
In the top of the fifth, Mondshein drew a two-out walk and advance to second on a wild pitch. Freshman Luke Pierce roped a double into right field scoring Mondshein to tie the game, 3-3.
RPI would pull back in front when senior Kyle LaVigne smacked a double into left in the bottom of the fifth. LaVigne reached third on a steal and then ended up scoring on groundout RBI by junior Tanner Boucher, to put RPI ahead 4-3, after 5 innings.
In the sixth, Chance Rueger swatted a two-out single to left to get the Ephs on base once more. Senior Ben Oliva pinch-ran for Rueger and scored on the next at-bat when senior Cameron Susk drove a double into right field. Junior K.C. Murphy slugged a back-to-back double to left, scoring Susk, to put the Ephs up 5-4.
Kopacz batted an infield single to the shortstop, and then he managed to steal second. Junior Jonny Rio brought him home with an RBI single to right field, to give RPI the tying run in the bottom of the sixth making the score 5-5.
Junior Darren Hartwell singled to center field to get on base in the top of the ninth. Mondshein followed with a single of his own to reach base. Then, Darren Hartwell stole third on a botched attempted pick-off by the pitcher. Luke Pierce made solid contact and reached on an error, scoring Hartwell to give the Ephs a 6-5 lead.
Oliva closed in the bottom of the ninth to get the win.
The Ephs return home Thursday for one more non-conference game against Eastern Nazarene (6-30). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (16-16) goes to Skidmore (23-9) for a conference matchup on Saturday.
