UTICA, N.Y. – Russell Sage College Baseball got out to an 8-0 lead to take the first game of Wednesday's Empire 8 Conference doubleheader at Utica 8-2 (seven innings). The second game was suspended heading to the top of the fifth with the teams knotted at 7 and will be resumed later this month in Albany.
Up 3-0 via RBI singles by senior infielder Jeff Stearns (Vergennes, VT/Vergennes Union) and outfielder James Lubanski (Port Washington, NY/Paul D. Schreiber), a grad student, RSC tacked on with a five-run seventh. Senior outfielder Leandro Guzman (New Britain, CT/New Britain) had the big hit of the rally with a two-run single.
Senior Evan Grimes (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) made the run support standup, allowing two runs, only one earned, and five hits, while striking out nine Pioneers (9-6-1/4-2 E8) in the complete game victory.
Junior infielder Anthony Rizzo (Latham, NY/Shaker/HVCC), Guzman, and Lubanski each had two hits in the road win.
The Gators (10-7/4-0 E8) held leads of 5-0 and 7-2 in the suspended contest. Stearns is currently 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored.
RSC is slated to play next on Saturday vs. Keuka.
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 an E8 Regular Season Championship, the Gators return 25 players to go along with 18 newcomers…Lubanski, Stearns, graduate pitcher Joe DeGroot (Clay, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse), and Grimes 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), who was named third team All-E8…Rizzo, junior catcher Colin Casey (Marlboro, NY/Marlboro/Saint Rose), and graduate pitcher Freddie Callo (Milton, NY/Marlboro/Utica) headline the newcomers that Head Coach Nick Pontari brought in…Pontari and his staff were named E8 Coaching Staff of the Year in 2024…Stearns was selected the E8 Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday, March 16…He hit .435 with 10 runs scored, two homers, and 10 RBI across six games…DeGroot was chosen the E8 Pitcher of the Week for the period ending Sunday, March 30…He allowed just one hit across six shutout innings to help RSC start E8 play 3-0 at Houghton.
