Trailblazers Lose 8-2 to Engineers
TROY, N.Y. – Senior captain Mike Cieszko earned his third win of the
season and sophomore Tanner Boucher hit his first collegiate home run to
lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team to an, 8-2,
victory over MCLA, this afternoon at Robison Field. With the win, the
Engineers improve to 10-6 on the season, while the Trailblazers drop to
5-9 overall.
Rensselaer started the scoring early, plating a pair of run in the first
inning. Junior Kyle LaVigne (Ashland, MA/Ashland) led off the frame with
in infield single, before advancing all the way to third on a stolen base
and throwing error. Sophomore Jonny Rio (Maplewood, NJ/Columbia)
delivered a sacrifice fly to deep left, before Boucher (Keene, NH/Keene)
blasted a home run over the fence in right center.
The Engineers picked up two more runs in the second, when LaVigne drew a
bases loaded walk in front an RBI-groundout by freshman Danny Kalish
(Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa).
MCLA answered in the top of the third on a two-out, two-run single off
the bat of senior second baseman Mike Meaney. Back-to-back hits by sophomore Joe Duncan
and senior John Ripepi, followed by an RPI throwing error, put runners on second and third
for Meaney, who ripped a single up the middle.
Sophomore designated hitter Chuck Erickson (Mansfield, MA/Mansfield) got
one run back for the hosts in the bottom of the third to take a 5-2 lead.
Boucher led off the stanza with a walk and a steal of second base.
Erickson then knocked him home with a two-bagger to the gap in left center.
Cieszko (Stevenson Ranch, CA/William S. Hart) earned the win (3-1),
surrendering two runs (1 earned) on five hits in 5.0 innings. He struck
out four, while walking two. MCLA starter Rick Massey (Cheshire, MA/St.
Joseph's) was tabbed with the loss (1-2), giving up five runs (4 earned)
on six hits in 3.0 innings.
Meaney had two hits and two RBI's on the day. Mike Bullett pitched three innings of relief
allowing one hit and one unearned run. MCLA left six runners on base. The Engineers are
back in action on Monday, when they host Montclair St.
at Robison Field (4pm). MCLA opens its league schedule on April 2, when it
visits Mass. Maritime for a doubleheader (1pm).