The RPI baseball team, now ranked ninth in the nation, had another productive week as it swept Vassar College in its only two games of the week. In addition, a few Red Hawks received Liberty League honors from the week of March 25 to April 1. Sophomore Pat Reardon received Performer of the Week for his work going six-for-10 with five extra-base hits including two home runs and 10 runs batted in. Senior Joe Zongol received Pitcher of the Week for his seven-inning complete game against Vassar, which included only one earned run and a season-high nine strikeouts. Freshman Dan Stroud completed a sweep, winning the Liberty League Rookie of the Week. Stroud went five-for-nine with two doubles and two runs batted in.
Due to last week’s rainout, the Red Hawks had an unusual Wednesday doubleheader against Vassar. In the first game, after Vassar jumped out to a 2-0 inning, the RPI offense had another big inning in the third, pounding out five runs on three hits, including a two-RBI double by senior Ken Carroll, to pull ahead. Pitching-wise, the Red Hawks were led by sophomores Andrew Mondo and Andy Opperman, who combined for a seven-inning, two-earned-run effort. The two combined to scattered 10 hits and six strikeouts. Mondo had the start and therefore the win, moving to 3-0 on the season. The final tally eventually came to be 7-2.
The second game proved to be more of the same as the Red Hawks were led by a powerful offense to a large 18-11 win. The first three innings were full of offense as RPI garnered 15 runs and Vassar seven, as RPI broke a 7-7 tie in the third with eight runs. Senior Dan Valentine led the offense going two-for-four with two doubles and four runs batted in. Sophomore Camden Mamigonian also helped out, hitting a home run and going two-for-five with three runs batted in. Once again the offense pulled through when the pitching wasn’t stellar and won the game outright by pounding ball after ball into the Troy air.
The baseball team was back in action after a six-day hiatus for a non-league game against The College at Old Westbury at Robison Field. The Red Hawks won easily with a final score of 15-1. Thus begins a stretch of seven games in five days, a stretch which would strain any pitching staff. It will be good to see how the Red Hawks, who are now ranked ninth in the nation with a 17-1 record, push through this tough period in their schedule.
