Schenectady, NY – Union (7-19, 6-13 Liberty) lost both games of a Liberty League doubleheader at home against RPI (22-8, 11-4 Liberty). The Dutchmen could not hold off the Redhawks in game one after building a four-run lead in a 7-4 setback. In game two the cross-town rivals came back again with two runs in the fifth to edge the home team, 2-1. Senior Adam Chused (Concord, MA/Concord-Carlisle) combined for three hits in six at-bats while scoring twice and driving in a run to lead Union. Jason Pollard drove in three runs on two hits in game one for RPI. Pitcher Charles Yarnold allowed just five hits for the win in game two.

 

Union plated three runs in the third inning of the opener after putting up a run in the first to make it a 4-0 game. Zach Tillo (Lancaster, MA/Exeter) singled into right field with two outs to bring two of those runs across. Josh McKelligan (Canton, MA/Salisbury) followed suit with a single down the right field line to plate the third run of the inning.

 

RPI scored all of its runs over the final three innings, beginning with a pair of three-run frames. They got things started in the fifth when Pollard hit a sacrifice fly to left field that brought in Jim Devine. Michael Passante kept things going with a single up the middle in the next at-bat. Rich Mundy grounded out to second with only one out to bring in Sean Wilkes.

 

The Red Hawks put up three more runs in the sixth with two outs. It appeared Union would close out the inning after forcing Bob Murphy to hit into a double play but four batters later Pollard drove in two runs with a single to right center field to put his team on top, 5-4.

 

Matt Muscatiello brought home Mundy in the seventh for the final run. Union threatened with one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the final inning but relief pitcher Tim Klein struck out the final two batters to pick up the save and preserve the win.

 

McKelligan pitched five and two-thirds innings in the loss. He allowed three earned runs on six hits and struck out six batters. Andrew Novick remained unbeaten with his third win of the season for RPI. He entered the game with two outs in the third and allowed just three hits and recorded three strike outs.

 

In game two Union struck first again with a run in the third inning. Chused drove in Matt Wentworth (N. Andover, MA/N. Andover) with a single to center field. Wentworth reached base with a triple to left field.

 

Rensselaer responded in the fifth inning to take over the lead. Devine doubled to right center, bringing in Joe Ihnatolya who led off the inning with a single. Two batters later Wilkes singled to bring in Devine.

 

Union managed just two hits over the final three innings and went down in order in the seventh.

 

Yarnold allowed one earned run and struck out four batters for the game two win. Matt Sheehan (Lexington, MA/Belmont Hill) allowed two runs on five hits in four and two-thirds innings to suffer the loss. Union did not record any strikeouts in game two.