Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—The Skidmore College baseball team opened its home schedule, dropping a pair of Liberty League games to Rensselaer, 5-3 and 7-3.
 
The Thoroughbreds are 3-9 overall and 0-3 in league play, while the Engineers improve to 11-3 and 3-1.
 
In game one, RPI scored three runs with two outs in the fourth to open a 3-0 lead.  Tyler Listing drilled a double down the left field line and later scored on a pair of wild pitches. Shane Matthews and Michael Crook walked and then advanced on a balk, setting up a two-run single by Tim LeSuer.
 
Skidmore responded with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Alex Pavelock  and Nick Barra each singled and were moved over on a bunt from Jeff Spindel.  After a strikeout, Matt Barra delivered a two-out two-run single to cut it to 3-2.
 
The Engineers scored one in the fifth. Nick Palmiero singled and later scored on a Jared Jensen sac fly.  The Thoroughbreds came right back in their half of the inning when Mat Marino walked and later scored on a Nick Barra sac fly.
 
RPI would tack on an insurance run in the sixth. Matthews got hit by a pitch and later scored on a LeSuer single for the 5-3 final.
 
Pavelock was 2-3 for Skidmore. Jeb Clarke started, allowing four runs on seven hits over five innings to take the loss. Mike LaVita pitched two innings of scoreless relief.
 
For RPI, LeSuer reached base all four times. He was 2-2 with three RBI and he got hit twice.  Jensen was 2-2. Tim Gallagher improved to 2-0, allowing three runs on three hits. He struck out five, but walked seven over 4 1/3. Greg Echeverria tossed 2 1/3 of scoreless relief to earn his first save.
 
Each team rattled out 10 hits in the second game, but the Engineers were able to put together seven runs, taking advantage of four Skidmore walks and four hit batters.
 
Skidmore went on top 1-0 in the first. Nick Barra doubled and scored on a two-out Pavelock single. RPI pieced together three runs in the second after loading the bases with no outs and then scoring on a hit batter, fielder's choice and RBI single by Andrew Kalish.
 
In the fourth, Kalish walked and later scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-1. Nick Barra came through with an RBI double in the bottom of the fourth for Skidmore, cutting it to 4-2.
 
The teams exchanged runs in the fifth before catcher Eric Kozak had a two RBI single in the seventh to put the game away.
 
Nick Barra finished 2-4 with an RBI. Pavelock was 2-4 with a run and an RBI and Clarke went 2-4 with an RBI.  Skidmore used five pitchers, with Isaac Forman taking the loss.
 
Jensen went 2-2 with three runs for RPI. Andrew Kalish was 2-3 with one RBI. Kozak finished 1-2 with three RBI.
 
Skidmore will host Cazenovia on Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
 
<cpi12>
 
RPI 5, Skidmore College 3 (Apr 03, 2014 at Saratoga Springs, NY) (Game 1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
RPI................. 000 311 0 -  5  8  1      (10-3, 1-2 Liberty)
Skidmore College.... 000 210 0 -  3  4  0      (3-8, 0-2 Liberty)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: RPI - Tim Gallagher; Greg Echeverria(5) and Michael Croke. Skidmore College -
Jeb Clarke; Justin Willig(6); Mike LaVita(6) and Daniel Dasgupta.
Win-Tim Gallagher(2-0)  Save-Greg Echeverria(1)  Loss-Jeb Clarke(0-1)  T-2:00  A-75
Weather: Clear,Cool, 46 at start
Willig faced 1 batter in the 6th.
Game: SCB43A
 
<cpi12>
 
RPI 7, Skidmore College 3 (Apr 03, 2014 at Saratoga Springs, NY) (Game 2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
RPI................. 030 110 2 -  7 10  1      (11-3, 3-1)
Skidmore College.... 100 110 0 -  3 10  0      (3-9, 0-3)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: RPI - Stephen Schiavone; Adam Kalish(4); Adam Aponte(5) and Eric Kozak.
Skidmore College - Isaac Forman; Dan Johnstone(3); Andrew Bannon(3); Daniel Dasgupta(6);
Mike LaVita(7) and Dan Miller.
Win-Adam Aponte(2-0)  Loss-Isaac Forman(2-1)  T-2:12  A-103
Game: SCBB43C