Buffalo, NY – Russell Sage College's baseball team wrapped their series with Empire 8 opponent Medaille University on Saturday. RSC took both games of the series with Medaille on Saturday, 9-6 and 18-5. The Gators improve to 12-17 overall and 6-6 in the Empire 8.The setback puts the Mustangs at 8-18 overall and 1-8 in the league.
Game #1 RSC 9-6 Medaille (7 Innings)
Down 6-3 headed to the top of the seventh inning trailing 6-3, the Gators rallied to score six runs off five hits in the top of the inning to take a 9-6 lead into the bottom half of the inning. Sophomore Leandro Guzman (New Britain, CT/New Britain) had a pinch hit double to start the rally. Senior James Lubanski (Port Washington, NY/Paul D. Schreiber) connected for his 11th double to score Guzman and in the process broke last season's single season doubles mark set by Guzman.
Sophomore Frank Colletta (Holtsville, NY/St. John the Baptist) had an RBI single before sophomore Jared Russell (Colonie, NY/Colonie) had an RBI single followed by a two RBI single through the left side by sophomore Nick Marsella (New Hyde Park, NY/New Hyde Park Memorial).
Russell was 4-for-4 in the game with a run scored and two RBI's, while Espinal was 1-for 3 with three runs scored, and an RBI. Sophomore Dom Caminitti (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) was 2-for-3 with a run scored for the Gators and an RBI.
Left handed graduate performer, Matthew Denatale (Rhinebeck, NY/Rhinebeck) started the game going four innings, yielding eight with six earned runs, three walks and three strikeouts. In relief, rightie Michael Karpinski (Ballston Spa, NY/Saratoga Springs) threw three scoreless innings and picked up the win (3-1). He walked four and struck out three with just two hits from the Mustangs.
Game #2 RSC 18-5 Medaille (9 innings)
Sophomore Brendan Espinal (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) had a big performance as the plate as he drove in four runs and was 3-for-6 with three runs scored to help the Gators combine for season-high 18 runs scored off of 17 hits. After Saturday's doubleheader sweep, Espinal now has a team-best 41 hits this season, breaking last year's single-season hit mark of 39 set by Guzman. He also continues to add to another active single-season mark as he now has 16 stolen bases.
Guzman added three stolen bases in the contest, while Colletta drove in three runs and was 2-for-5 at the plate with two runs scored and a double. Caminitti was 3-for-6 with two RBI's and two runs scored with a double, while rookie infielder Carter Albano (East Greenbush, NY/Columbia) drove in three runs and was 2-for-5 at the plate. Lubanski had two stolen bases with a pair of runs scored, an RBI and was 1-for -3 at the plate.
The duo of Espinal and Lubanski continue to rewrite the young Gators' record book as they both have already tied last year's season total of 27 RBI's, while Espinal now holds the single-season hit mark (41) and stolen base mark (16).
Right handed sophomore Ricky Parks (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) earned the win (2-2) after five innings of work, allowing four earned runs off of five hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
Graduate performer Cameron Anderson (Clifton Park, NY/Burnt Hills) allowed three hits in his two innings of work with no earned runs and a walk, before senior Will Simkin (Canberra, Australia) worked two innings, yielding just one hit with no runs and three strikeouts along the way.
RSC takes on SUNY-New Paltz next on April 18 at 4 p.m. in a single non-conference game.
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