Winning streaks have been the rule for the baseball team this season. Although the Red Hawks ended a winning streak last Thursday, they started a new one last weekend, sweeping Liberty League rival Skidmore College in a four-game set over the weekend. Their record now stands at 23-8, for a staggering .742 winning percentage. Sophomore Jim Devine was named Liberty League Performer of the Week, adding another accolade to the Red Hawk repertoire.
Devine batted .455 over the week with 10 hits and five walks, raising his OBP to .393 on the season. He collected a hit in every game and had three multiple-hit games.
Last Thursday the Red Hawks traveled to Williamstown, Mass., to take on a strong Williams College team. The Ephs got the best of the Red Hawks, eventually taking the game 5-3 in a hard-fought battle. Williams led the whole way, gaining a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. RPI did scratch across a run in the fourth and two more in the seventh, behind a two run singe by Jason Pollard. The Eph two-run rally in the fifth, however, and the lone run in the sixth proved to be too much. The final score was 5-3 in favor of the home team.
The weekend led to yet another four game series with a Liberty League opponent; this time it was Skidmore. The Red Hawks started the first game off on the right foot, scoring twice in the top half of the first inning. After four innings, the score was tied at four apiece, but the Red Hawk bats awoke once again, scoring three runs in the top of the sixth—a margin which proved to be enough.
Freshman John Dremiller had another strong pitching performance for the win, allowing four runs, one earned, on five hits over as many innings. Tim Klein pitched the final two innings without giving up a run earning the save, his fourth of the year.
In the second game the Red Hawk offense once again provided more than the needed number of runs, scoring nine times on 10 hits. Freshman designated hitter Pat Reardon led the team with three hits in six at-bats. He also added two runs batted in.
Another solid pitching performance was put in by starter Luke Calzone (3-2). Calzone struck out six and surrendered only two runs on four hits over six and two thirds innings, for the eventual win. Klein again pitched two scoreless innings for the save.
On Sunday, the two teams traveled to Robison Field to play another double-header. The RPI offense showed up once again combining for 31 runs on 27 hits over the two games. In the first game, the Red Hawks found themselves behind for the first time over the weekend. Despite a third inning three-run homer by Reardon, the team found itself down 9-6 after a nine-run inning by Skidmore in the top of the fourth. The inning was a tough one as—with team ace Joe Zongol on the mound—even a costly error led to eight unearned runs.
But the Red Hawks remained resilient, as two innings later, in the bottom of the sixth, they put a six on the scoreboard. Key hits included a two-run triple by Pollard and a bases-loaded two-run double by Shane Griffin. The final score proved to be 12-9 in favor of the Red Hawks. The resilience of the team showed through, as even on a day when their ace couldn’t get out of the fourth inning, they found a way to come from behind and win.
The nightcap proved to be another come from behind win, as Skidmore jumped out to a 5-0 lead after an inning and a half. The Red Hawks wasted no time answering, scoring five runs in the bottom of the second. Later, facing a 10-8 deficit in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Red Hawks rallied again and scored 10 runs. The ten-run inning was yet another big one, which the RPI offense has churned out time and time again this season. Each team added another run in the seventh, but the 19-11 lead proved to be enough as the Red Hawks completed the four-game sweep.
Freshman Andrew Mondo earned the win, settling down after allowing three earned runs to the potent Skidmore offense. Adam Lasek paced the offense going 3-3 with a double, a home run, and six RBIs.
As of the end of April, the baseball team had won nine out of their last 10, leading to a most impressive 23-8 record. The team has one final four-game set against Liberty League opponent Vassar set for this weekend. After that, the postseason looms as the Red Hawks set their sights on a national championship.
