DRAMATIC FINISH HELPS RSC BASEBALL TEAM PUNCH TICKET INTO 2023 EMPIRE 8 CHAMPIONSHIP
Pittsford, NY – Russell Sage College's baseball team was in action om the second day of the 2023 Empire 8 Championship hosted by St. John Fisher University. The Gators had a busy day taking on Houghton University in the first game of the day and came away with a 12-2 win. RSC then faced No. 2 seeded Utica University in an elimination game and triumphed with a play at the plate in the bottom of the 11th, beating second seeded Utica, 7-6.
Only a second-year team, RSC's baseball team under the direction of head coach Nick Pontari, will appear in the 2023 Empire 8 Championship game as they face top seeded St. John Fisher University at noon on Saturday.
RSC 12-2 Houghton (Houghton Eliminated)
RSC's bats combined for 12 hits including four doubles with eight stolen bases to fend off elimination.
Sophomore first baseman Frank Colletta (Holtsville, NY/St. John the Baptist) was 3-for-5 at the plate with three runs scored, two RBI's and a stolen base. RSC's senior left fielder James Lubanski (Port Washington, NY/Paul D. Schreiber) added a double and was 1-for-4 with three runs scored with three stolen bases and two walks.
Sophomore right fielder Jared Russell (Colonie, NY/Colonie) was 1-for-5 at the plate with a double and a stolen base, while sophomore third baseman Christian Brown (Troy, NY/Troy) was 1-for-5 with two RBI's and a stolen base.
Sophomores Andrew Knapp (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) and Zachary Figueras (Apopka, FL/Windermere) both had doubles as RSC now has 65 on the season. The Gators ombined for 44 at-bats in the game, which ranks No. 2 all-time for a single game team mark.
On the mound, right handed sophomore Liam Doyle (West Sayville, NY/Connetquot) collected the win after he scattered eight hits, allowing just one earned run and struck out five in 7.2 innings of work. Now 4-8 this year, he leads the Gators having worked in 60.1 innings with a team-best 57 strikeouts. He is closing in on his 100th career strikeout as he now has 92 at RSC in 104.0 innings of work as a Gator. Sophomore Michael Karpinski (Ballston Spa, NY/Saratoga Springs) worked 1.1 innings with a pair of strikeouts.
RSC 7-6 Utica University (11 innings) Utica eliminated
In an extra-inning battle, the Gators clawed their way back into the game tying it four times before ultimately taking the lead in the top of the 11th inning. Sophomore second baseman Dom Caminitti (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) led off the top of the 11th with a double to left center field. He moved to third on Figueras' at bat as he was out 6-3. Sophomore catcher Dylan Scherillo (Drums, PA/New Dorp) drove in what would be the game-winning run with his single through the left side.
In the bottom of the 11th, with two outs, Salbinski drew a walk off Jaylen Cuevas (Bronx, NY/Fordham Prep). Jason Story had a single to centerfield and Salbinski advanced to third and decided to head home, only to be thrown out by sophomore third baseman Christian Brown (Troy, NY/Troy) to Scherillo.
The Gators combined for 16 hits with four doubles and left 15 on base. Headlining the Gator hit parade was Caminitti as he was 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Lubanski went 2-for-5 with three RBI's and added a double, while sophomore centerfielder Jacob Coonan (Wynantskill, NY/Averill Park) was 2-for-5 with an RBI and a double. All told, RSC had a single-game record with 49 team at-bats in the contest and finished the day with 93 at-bats.
RSC's graduate pitcher Matthew Denatale (Rhinebeck, NY/Rhinebeck) got the nod as RSC's starter and went 0.2 innings, allowing three earned runs off of two hits with two walks and a strikeout. Graduate player Cameron Anderson (Clifton Park, NY/Burnt Hills) threw 4.2 innings for RSC in relief, allowing two earned runs off of six hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
Karpinski worked 2.2 innings of scoreless relief fanning three and walking three before Cuevas came in and worked three innings for RSC. Cuevas allowed no runs off of three hits with three walks and three strikeouts and earned his first win of the year, moving to 1-3.
Lubanksi continues to lead the Gators as he now has a single-season 18 doubles to go with his 34 runs scored with 78 total bases. Espinal, who also has 34 RBI's, leads the Gators with his 21 stolen bases.
Karpinski and Cuevas lead the Gator pitching staff with 19 appearances each, while Denatale and Cuevas are both second with 39 strikeouts apiece.
2023 Empire 8 Championship Schedule
Game #6 St. John Fisher vs. Russell Sage College, Noon
Game #7 Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 6 (If necessary), 3:30 p.m.
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