TROY, NY – Union (7-20, 6-14 Liberty) managed just four hits, three of those coming in the fifth inning, as they were defeated 7-2 by RPI (23-8, 12-4 Liberty) at Robison Field. The Dutchmen took advantage of a Red Hawks error in the fifth to plate two runs and pull within three but the home team matched that total in the bottom half of the frame. Union had its share of trouble on defense committing five errors that led to three of RPI's runs. Starting pitcher Eric Giovannone (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) allowed four earned runs on three hits while striking out three batters in three innings of work.

 

The Red Hawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead after one inning on an RBI single by senior Joe Ihnatolya and an unearned run.  After senior Michael Passante scored his second unearned run of the afternoon in the third inning, Ihnatolya made the score 5-0 with a two-run home run to right centerfield later in the inning. The homer was his fourth of the season.

 

Union fought back to make it 5-2 in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI single by senior Adam Chused (Concord, MA/Concord-Carlisle) and a bases loaded walk by senior Jeff Viamari (Longmeadow, MA/Tabor Academy). Rensselaer got those two runs right back, however, scoring two unearned runs in the bottom half of the inning.

 

Junior lefthander Luke Calzone allowed just four hits and no earned runs while striking out nine in the complete game win for RPI. Ihnatolya finished with two hits, a run and three RBI while junior catcher Jason Pollard and sophomore outfielder Dan Valentine had two hits apiece.

Shawn Johnston (Hamilton, NJ/The Peddie School), Carson Strang (Shaker Heights, OH/Shaker Heights), and Matt Smith (Latham, NY/LaSalle) joined Chused in the hit column with singles. Giovannone suffer his third loss of the season. Reliever Mike Donovan (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) gave up six hits and two unearned runs while striking out two in five innings of work.