AMSTERDAM, N.Y. – Russell Sage College baseball took both ends of a doubleheader from Utica Sunday afternoon, game one by a score of 11-7 and game two 10-3.
The Gators (13-11, 6-1 E8) had 18 hits in the Empire 8 twin-bill sweep, four of those being home runs.
The game one victory was led by outfielder Evan Grimes (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa), as the junior was a triple away from the cycle in his three-hit, four-RBI performance. His second inning three-run homer gave the Gators a 6-3 lead that they would never look back from.
Junior outfielder Jared Russell (Colonie, NY/Colonie) contributed a double and a two-RBI single while junior infielder Dom Caminitti (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) had two hits, drove in a run and scored two of his own out of the lead-off spot.
Joe Degroot (Clay, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse), a grad student, got the victory on the hill for the Gators, going 6.2 innings with three strikeouts.
Jason Story provided a big chunk of the offense for Utica, as the senior outfielder went 4-4 with two homers and four runs batted in.
RSC's bats stayed hot in game two, as junior infielder Jeff Stearnes (Vergennes, VT/Vergennes Union) ripped a two-run homer as the fourth batter of the game.
Utica bounced back with one of their own in the bottom of the first, before the Gators exploded over the next eight frames.
Outfielder James Lubanski (Port Washington, NY/Paul D. Schreiber), a grad student and Russell each hit two-run big flies in the middle innings. Those combined with a two-run single from Grimes, a bases loaded walk from Caminitti, and a throwing error that brought Lubanski across to score made the nightcap a 10-1 ballgame going into the bottom of the 9th.
The Pioneers got two more off the bat of Story again, hitting his third home run of the twin bill. Those would be all that Utica would muster in the 10-3 final.
The 2-5 batters in the RSC lineup combined for eight runs batted in, two each for Grimes, Lubanski, Stearnes, and Russell.
Matthew Denatale (Rhinebeck, NY/Rhinebeck), a grad student, contributed a gem on the hill, getting the win in his eight inning, five strikeout, and one run performance.
Looking ahead, the Gators are back in action on Tuesday as they head to Cobleskill for a single game. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 PM.
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.
Gator Golf: The 19th Annual Gator Golf Classic will be held May 31, 2024. More Information: https://www.
