KEUKA PARK, N.Y. – Russell Sage College baseball swept Keuka in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon with two mercy rule wins, enough to clinch a spot in the Empire 8 conference tournament. The Gators took game one 19-2 and game two 17-4, marking the second time they have scored 30 or more runs in a doubleheader this season.
RSC's offensive prowess continued on Saturday, securing their 5th and 6th consecutive Empire 8 conference victories. The Gators have scored seven or more runs in all six consecutive wins and are currently hitting .354 as a team in conference play.
The doubleheader was headlined by the bats of the middle of the RSC order. Outfielder Brendan Espinal (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa), the E8's leader in batting average, slugging percentage, on base percentage, and OPS went 6-9 with five RBI's, three doubles, a triple, and two walks over the twin bill. Infielder Jeff Stearnes (Vergennes, VT/Vergennes Union) drove in nine runs, going 7-9 with two doubles and a triple. The juniors were both a home run away from the cycle in the opener.
Outfielder James Lubanski (Port Washington, NY/Paul D. Schreiber), a grad student who upped his own single-season RBI standard this season, scored a run in game one after a walk, before turning the script on his afternoon in game two, as he drove in three runs on two hits and crossed home three times for himself. The program's leader in stolen bases Jared Russell (Colonie, NY/Colonie) drove in five runs on four hits in the doubleheader.
Production from the heart of the order was the story for the Gators, but RSC hit up and down the order all afternoon. Junior infielder Dom Caminitti (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) had three hits and four runs out of the leadoff spot, junior catcher Cole Paro (Wolfeboro NH/Kingswood Regional) ripped a bases clearing single in game one's nine-run third inning, and junior infielder Zachary Figueras (Apopka, FL/Windermere) had three hits, drove in two runs, and scored three of his own. Junior pitcher/outfielder Evan Grimes (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa), who only hit in game one before getting the start on the mound in game two, went 2-4 and drove in two runs.
Gators pitching took advantage of the cushion that the offense gave them, as junior Liam Doyle (West Sayville, NY/Connetquot) got the nod in game one, going six strong innings punching out seven batters while only giving up one run. The aforementioned Grimes took the pill for Coach Pontari in the nightcap, registering ning strikeouts in his six innings of work on the way to his first pitching victory on the campaign.
Keuka College (8-21/5-7 E8) snapped a five game winning streak with the pair of losses on Saturday.
Looking ahead, RSC concludes the weekend set with Keuka on Sunday afternoon with a 1:00 first pitch.
Gator Bites: Now its third season as a program, RSC looks to continue to climb the Empire 8 Conference ladder in 2024…The Gators, which returned all 10 starters, were the runner-up in the 2023 E8 Championship Tournament…Outfielder James Lubanski (Port Washington, NY/Paul D. Schreiber), a grad student, and junior pitcher Liam Doyle (West Sayville, NY/Connetquot) headline the returnees…Lubanski was named third-team All-Region by the American Baseball Coaches Association, while Doyle, a righty, topped RSC in innings pitched and ERA last spring…Junior outfielder Brendan Espinal (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) was selected the Empire 8 Conference Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday, March 10…He slashed .559/.941/.595 during the team's Florida trip…Espinal totaled 12 runs scored, 10 RBI, 32 bases, and six doubles across the nine games. Junior outfielder Jared Russell (Colonie, NY/Colonie) set the single season and career standard in stolen bases in 2024 while Lubanski broke both the single season and career standards in runs batted in.
Gator Golf: The 19th Annual Gator Golf Classic will be held May 31, 2024. More Information: https://www.
