Trailblazers Lose 8-2 to Engineers

TROY, N.Y. – Senior captain Mike Cieszko earned his third win of the

season and sophomore Tanner Boucher hit his first collegiate home run to

lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) baseball team to an, 8-2,

victory over MCLA, this afternoon at Robison Field. With the win, the

Engineers improve to 10-6 on the season, while the Trailblazers drop to

5-9 overall.

Rensselaer started the scoring early, plating a pair of run in the first

inning. Junior Kyle LaVigne (Ashland, MA/Ashland) led off the frame with

in infield single, before advancing all the way to third on a stolen base

and throwing error. Sophomore Jonny Rio (Maplewood, NJ/Columbia)

delivered a sacrifice fly to deep left, before Boucher (Keene, NH/Keene)

blasted a home run over the fence in right center.

The Engineers picked up two more runs in the second, when LaVigne drew a

bases loaded walk in front an RBI-groundout by freshman Danny Kalish

(Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa).

MCLA answered in the top of the third on a two-out, two-run single off

the bat of senior second baseman Mike Meaney. Back-to-back hits by sophomore Joe Duncan

and senior John Ripepi, followed by an RPI throwing error, put runners on second and third

for Meaney, who ripped a single up the middle.

Sophomore designated hitter Chuck Erickson (Mansfield, MA/Mansfield) got

one run back for the hosts in the bottom of the third to take a 5-2 lead.

Boucher led off the stanza with a walk and a steal of second base.

Erickson then knocked him home with a two-bagger to the gap in left center.

Cieszko (Stevenson Ranch, CA/William S. Hart) earned the win (3-1),

surrendering two runs (1 earned) on five hits in 5.0 innings. He struck

out four, while walking two. MCLA starter Rick Massey (Cheshire, MA/St.

Joseph's) was tabbed with the loss (1-2), giving up five runs (4 earned)

on six hits in 3.0 innings. 

Meaney had two hits and two RBI's on the day. Mike Bullett pitched three innings of relief

allowing one hit and one unearned run. MCLA left six runners on base. The Engineers are

back in action on Monday, when they host Montclair St.

at Robison Field (4pm). MCLA opens its league schedule on April 2, when it

visits Mass. Maritime for a doubleheader (1pm).