The RPI baseball team traveled to Wayne, N.J., last Wednesday to face off against the William Paterson University Pioneers. The Red Hawks came into the match with a 13-game winning streak, and were looking to extend it and improve their record on the season. Although the game was called prematurely in the sixth inning due to steady rain, RPI still finished with a victory as they dominated play throughout the game.
Rensselaer came out with bats swinging early in the top of the first inning when junior left fielder Camden Mamigonian hit a double to give RPI a 2-0 lead. Later in the second, the Red Hawks were able to build their lead to 5-0 with a homer by junior Mike Cieszko to left field. Then, two more RPI players crossed the plate off an error and a fielder’s choice.
Although the Red Hawks held a commanding lead at the end of the second inning, the Pioneers nearly tied the game in the bottom of the fourth with four runs, but the close game would not last for long. RPI answered the Pioneers’ four-run inning in the top of the fifth with a stellar performance. Eleven of RPI’s hitters scored a total of eight runs to build the Red Hawks’ lead to nine. Cieszko, Mamigonian, and sophomore Nic Marchese, all went 2-for-3. Junior RPI pitcher Andrew Mondo allowed only one hit during his 2.0 innings on the mound and helped the Red Hawks win their 14th game in a row, 15-4.
The steady rain that ended Wednesday’s game in the sixth returned on Saturday, postponing the doubleheader against the Clarkson University Golden Knights. The games have yet to be rescheduled. However, both teams were already slated to play again on Sunday in Postsdam, N.Y.
The Red Hawks drew first blood in the top of the first off a sacrifice hit to take a 1-0 lead. But in the second inning, RPI built its lead when Cieszko scaled the left fence for the only home run of the day. However, the Clarkson pitcher closed the inning with groundball outs, keeping RPI’s lead at two. The rest of the game was just Red Hawk discipline in the outfield and tough play.
Mondo greatly added to the effort when he struck out nine and walked two on the day, allowing RPI to shut out the Knights. When the ninth ended, RPI had plated three, including one more in the sixth, to win 3-0.
Rensselaer, with its 16th win on the season, extended its streak to 15, improving to 16-4 overall and an undefeated 9-0 in the Liberty League. The win also snapped Clarkon’s winning streak at six; it now sits 9-8 overall and 5-2 in the league.
Yesterday’s game at SUNY New Paltz was postponed due to inclement weather and has yet to be rescheduled.
Following the week of play, two Red Hawks were awarded with Liberty League honors. Mondo was tabbed as Pitcher of the Week, while junior Patrick Reardon was picked as Performer of the Week. Currently 5-1 on the year, Mondo went 2-0 in his two starts last week, allowing only four hits over the course of 11 innings, while striking out nine. He also has a 2.04 earned run average in six starts this season.
Reardon batted .500, with four doubles, seven runs, and four RBIs this past week. In addition, he also had a .750 slugging percentage and recorded a .579 on-base percentage. The catcher has started in 19 of 20 games, and recorded a total of three home runs, nine doubles, 26 runs, and 23 RBIs so far this season.
The Red Hawks face the University of Rochester Yellowjackets in a pair of doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday, followed by a single game at Montclair State University on Tuesday. Rensselaer heads home on Wednesday to play Montclair again in another single game effort, beginning at 4 pm at Robison Field.
