AMSTERDAM, N.Y. – The Union College baseball team earned a senior day split against rival Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Saturday afternoon at Shuttleworth Park. The Engineers took game one 11-3 while the Dutchmen won the second game, 2-1.

With the split, Union moves to 14-15 overall and 8-9 in Liberty League play. RPI is now 13-16 overall and 5-10 in conference play this season.  

Sophomore Kobe Mentzer led the way for the Dutchmen, going 4-for-7 at the plate with two runs scored, and a homerun.

Game One: RPI 11, Union 3

In the opening game, Mentzer led all Union batters with three hits and a run scored while classmate Sebastian Pike registered his second homerun of the season. Senior Colby Nash, sophomore Thomas Parisi, and junior Jack Davis all recorded two hits each.

The Engineers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning before tacking on a run in the second inning on a sac fly to make it a 4-0 game.

Rensselaer tacked on five runs in the fifth inning, four off of a grand slam by Joey Saia.

Union broke through in the seventh stanza with a leadoff solo homerun by sophomore Sebastian Pike, his second of the season.

The Dutchmen plated two more in the eighth to cut the lead 9-3. Sophomore Kobe Mentzer led off with a single into left field. With Mentzer on second base, senior Colby Nash drove a single down the left field line to score Mentzer. Union loaded the bases and senior Justin Cabanas hit a sac fly into left field to bring home Union's third and final run.

The Engineers added the final runs off of a two-run homerun from Saia.

Senior Chris Murdock falls to 2-2 on the season after surrendering eight runs, seven earned, on eight hits, and struck out three in 4.2 innings of work. Chris Grome earns the win, improving to 5-1 on the season, with one run on eight hits and one strikeout in seven innings.

Game Two: Union 2, RPI 1

The Dutchmen registered three hits in the second game, but made them count. Mentzer and first-year Ryan Cowles each drove solo homeruns over the center field fence.

Mentzer opened the scoring in the first inning with a solo blast to center for the 1-0 lead. After two scoreless innings, the Engineers scored the equalizer.

In the fifth stanza, Cowles smashed his first collegiate homerun over the center field fence to break a 1-1 tie to give Union a 2-1 lead.

The Engineers made some noise in the final two innings, but junior Jason Goldblum entered the game to slam the door close and give Union the 2-1 victory.

First-year Chris Suter earned his fifth win of the season, improving to 5-2. In 5.2 innings, he allowed one run on six hits and fanned three. Goldblum entered the game and picked up his fifth save of the season, striking out one in 1.1 innings of work.

Prior to the start of the doubleheader, Union recognized the six members of the senior class in a ceremony with their families: Murdock, Cabanas, Nash, Jay Masci, James Salemme, and Jack DiNanno.

The Dutchmen look to secure the series win against the Engineers tomorrow in Troy. First pitch is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. at Robinson Field at Karl Steffen Ballpark.