The RPI Baseball team rolled on last weekend, sweeping a four-game series against league opponent Clarkson University to improve its impressive record to 11-1. The four games on Saturday and Sunday were the league openers for the Red Hawks and the first games they played since returning from Florida. Ranked 23rd in the nation in some polls, the Red Hawks are getting wins mostly by mashing the ball, with a few pitching masterpieces thrown in.
On Saturday the baseball team opened at home for the first time with a nail-biting 2-0 seven-inning win. Senior southpaw Joe Zongol garnered his second win of the season with a three hit, seven strikeout shutout. Offensively, however, the Red Hawks were held in check most of the game for the first time this year, only amassing two runs on eight hits. Both runs were driven in by senior first baseman Ken Carroll in the fourth inning on a two-run single with runners on second and third.
In game two on Saturday, the powerful Red Hawk offense could not be held back for long as the team scored at least once in each of the first four innings, gathering seven runs within that period. It then added two more in the seventh inning to give a final score of 9-4. Leading the offense on the day was senior right fielder Dan Valentine and sophomore Camden Mamigonian. Valentine went three for five with two doubles and three runs batted in, while Mamigonian also went three for five along with two doubles and two runs driven in. Junior Andy Opperman earned the win in relief, pitching two innings and allowing one run.
Sunday proved to be another day full of wins at Robison field for the Red Hawks as they out-scored Clarkson 27-13 (combined), winning game one 10-5 and game two 17-8. In the first game, an eight-run second inning paced the Red Hawks. Mamigonian went two for two in the inning, leading it off with a single and later lacing a two-run double. Clarkson then scored its five runs in the bottoms of the second and the third innings. The starting pitcher for the Red Hawks, sophomore Andrew Mondo, then settled down and pitched six innings only allowing the five runs—three earned—and striking out seven.
In game two, RPI jumped on Clarkson again early scoring 11 runs the in first four innings, including a seven-run third. After four innings the score stood at 11-5 and RPI did not look back, putting three more runs up in the eighth and ninth frames. The final score stood at 17 to 8. The Red Hawks pounded the ball, getting 20 hits, including six doubles. Freshman Tyler Agneta received the win in relief picking up his second of the season. Agneta pitched four one-run innings, allowing three hits and striking out five.
The baseball team will be back in action at 3:30 pm this Wednesday against non-league opponent Plattsburg State. They then play a four-game home and away series against Vassar College. Game one starts at 1 pm at Robison Field on Saturday.
