Red Hawks pound out 20 hits in victory over Trailblazers 17-5
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RPI jumped out to an early lead, scoring four times in each of the first two innings off MCLA starter Daniel Gaines (Holyoke, MA/Holyoke). In the first, sophomore Nic Marchese (Tampa, FL/Chamberlain) drove in two with a single to right. Mamigonian (Dover, NH/Dover) followed with his sixth home run of the season. Patrick Reardon (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute), Mamigonian and Mike Cieszko (Stevenson Ranch, CA/William S. Hart) each had run scoring base-hits in the second to make it 8-0.
The Trailblazers got a run back in the top of the fourth, when designated hitter Joe Parillo (West Springfield, MA/West Springfield) delivered an RBI-double to left. The Red Hawks answered with a five-run bottom of the inning to put the game out of reach at 13-1. Five straight batters reached with one out in the inning, including Cieszko, who drove in two with a single to left field. Senior Jim Devine (Castleton, NY/Columbia) and junior Tom Jebb (Ticonderoga, NY/Ticonderoga) then followed with run-scoring hits.
MCLA scored two runs in the seventh and one in the ninth to complete the scoring. Senior Steve Sullivan (Wareham, MA/Wareham) drove in a pair with a single to left-center in the seventh, before pinch hitter Evan Frank (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady) picked up an RBI base knock in the final frame.
Rensselaer starter Andrew Mondo (Clifton Park, NY/Schenedehowa) earned his team-leading eighth win of the season allowing two runs (1 earned) on four hits over 5.0 innings. Senior reliever Andrew Novick (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay) made his 64th career appearance when he entered in the sixth, tying the school record held by Paul Louderback ’99.
Sean Wilkes (Troy, NY/Catholic Central) went 3 for 5 a run scored and two runs batted in. Cieszko finished 3 for 6 with two runs and three RBI, while Jebb was 3 for 4 with a run and two RBI. The Trailblazers were paced by Sullivan, who went 4 for 5 with two doubles and three runs batted in. Catcher Ken Recore (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park) ended up 2 for 5.
The Red Hawks return to the diamond on Sunday when they visit Old Westbury (2pm). MCLA will host Salem State in the MASCAC regular season final on Saturday at 1:00PM.
