DAVENPORT, Fla. – Russell Sage College baseball tallied 26 runs across its two games on Sunday in a split doubleheader against Immaculata and RIT.
Immaculata got out to an early lead in game one, holding a 5-2 advantage through the first three frames. RSC answered in the bottom of the fourth, scoring nine runs, four of those coming off the bat of senior infielder Jeff Stearns (Vergennes, VT/Vergennes Union) who hit an RBI-single following a James Lubanski (Port Washington, NY/Paul D. Schreiber) double to open the inning, and followed it up later in the frame with a three-run shot.
Seven of the nine Gator starters found themselves in the hit column, with five registering multi-hit performances as RSC pulled out a 19-7 rout of the Mighty Macs.
Stearns recorded four hits and drove in five runs and Lubanski drove in two runs on three hits. Senior infielder Zachary Figueras (Apopka, FL/Windermere) hit a triple and a double and drove in four runs in the victory, while senior outfielder Evan Grimes (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) ripped two doubles and drove in a pair of runs. Junior catcher Colin Casey (Marlboro, NY/Marlboro/Saint Rose) tallied a pair of singles and two RBI's.
Game two was a battle until the 8th, where RSC led 7-6 before Jarin Moses ripped a two-run homerun to put the Tigers ahead. RSC had a runner on in the bottom of the ninth, but the comeback attempt came up short, resulting in a 9-7 final score.
Figueras continued his strong day, registering two hits and a run, while senior infielder Dom Caminitti (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) had two hits of his own. Senior outfielder Jared Russell (Colonie, NY/Colonie) walked three times and scored two runs.
RSC (3-2) continues their trip on Monday against UMass Dartmouth.
Gator Bites with Papa John's: RSC looks to build upon the most successful season in program history in 2025…Coming off a 16-2 record in Empire 8 Conference play and a regular season championship, the Gators return 25 players to go along with 18 newcomers…Graduate outfielder James Lubanski (Port Washington, NY/Paul D. Schreiber), senior infielder Jeff Stearns (Vergennes, VT/Vergennes Union), graduate pitcher Joe Degroot (Clay, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse), and senior pitcher/outfielder Evan Grimes (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) highlight the returners…Lubanski, Stearns, and Grimes made first team All-E8 conference, while Degroot found himself on the second team…Four others earned all-conference honors in 2024, including senior outfielder Jared Russell (Colonie, NY/Colonie) and senior catcher Cole Paro (Wolfeboro NH/Kingswood Regional), who were both named third team All-E8… Junior infielder Anthony Rizzo (Latham, NY/Shaker/HVCC), junior catcher Colin Casey (Marlboro, NY/Marlboro/Saint Rose), and graduate pitcher Freddie Callo (Milton, NY/Marlboro/Utica) headline the newcomers Head Coach Nick Pontari brought in…Pontari and his staff were named E8 Coaching Staff of the Year in 2024.
