Houghton, NY – Russell Sage College's baseball team was in action on Saturday at Houghton University to open their three-game Empire 8 series. Houghton took game one in an 11 inning affair, 2-1 and the Gators won the nightcap, 1-0.

A year ago the Gators were 14-27-1 in their inaugural campaign under rookie head coach Nick Pontari. After Saturday's victory, the 2023 Gators have surpassed that overall win total as they now have 16 wins and are 16-20 overall and 9-8 in the Empire 8. The Gators have three regular-season games left to be played.

Game #1 Houghton 2-1 RSC (11 Innings)

RSC scored the go ahead run in the top of the second inning and had to 1-0 lead until the bottom of the seventh in what was slated to be a seven inning game. Houghton tied the game at 1-1 after RSC's starter, right handed ace Liam Doyle (West Sayville, NY/Connetquot) threw 8.0 innings, including seven scoreless innings for the Gators. He allowed seven hits with one earned run and struck one nine Highlanders.

Sophomore Michael Karpinski (Ballston Spa, NY/Saratoga Springs) worked 2.2 innings, allowing one earned run off one hit with three walks and a pair of strikeouts. He suffered the loss and is now 3-2.

Sophomore outfielder Jared Russell (Colonie, NY/Colonie) reached base in the second inning on a single to short and went to second as sophomore Christian Brown (Troy, NY/Troy) singled to center field.  A wild pitch allowed Russell to score. He finished the game going 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored, while senior James Lubanski (Port Washington, NY/Paul D. Schreiber) and sophomore Zachary Figueras (Apolka, FL/Windermere) each had doubles in the game.

Game # 2 RSC 1-0 Houghton (7 innings)

With the first game becoming the nine inning game because of the extra-inning status, game two became the seven inning contest.

RSC scored first in the top of the sixth as Figueras had a leadoff single. He moved to second on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch, spotting the Gators to a 1-0 lead in the middle of the sixth. The Gators stranded two runs in the top of the seventh as Russell had a leadoff single and stole second before Brown drew a walk.

Left handed Matthew Denatale (Rhinebeck, NY/Rhinebeck) threw a complete game shutout as he scattered five hits and struck out three and is 4-2.

RSC will face Houghton on Sunday in an Empire 8 game, slated for a 1 p.m. start time.

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