Baseball | 3/1/2011 3:06:32 PM
WINTER HAVEN, FL - The RIT baseball team is off to a slow start at the 2011 Russ Matt Invitational, having lost its first four games of the week. The Tigers opened by losing 16-5 to Augustana on Saturday, then dropped both ends of a double-header to SUNY Farmingdale, 9-6 and 6-2 on Sunday. On Monday, RIT fell to Hanover, 6-3.
Dave Kernan (North Syracuse, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI in the loss to Augustana.
Walt Roman (Spencerport, NY/Spencerport) recorded his first collegiate hit and run scored.
Ben Robertson (Mecklenburg, NY/Trumansburg) and
Ed Hughes (Jamesville, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt) were 1-for-3 with a run batted in each.
In game one against Farmingdale, RIT ripped 14 hits but were unable to get the win.
Kreag Bradley (Victor, NY/Victor) was 3-for-4 with a run scored and run batted in, while
Brian Brazee (Auburn, NY/Auburn),
Justin Smith (Livonia, NY/Livonia),
Jeffrey Creagh (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Forks), and Kernan each recorded two hits.
Brad Wright (Baldswinville, NY/C.W. Baker) pitched three solid innings of relief.
RIT was held to just seven hits in game two against Farmingdale. Hughes was 2-for-3, while
Ben Robertson (Mecklenburg, NY/Trumansburg) was 2-for-3 with a stolen base. Smith stole his 43rd career base, one shy of the schoool mark
Charles Yarrington (Rochester, NY/Pittsford Sutherland) and
Chris Dickinson (Honeoye Falls, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima) combined to allow just one run in 2 2/3 of relief.
The Tigers pounded 11 hits against Hanover, but could only muster three runs. Highes was 2-for-4 with a run scored and driven in.
Jon Meyer (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Sutherland) tallied two hits, while Smith was 2-for-5 with a triple.
Michael Burns (Rochester, NY/Rush-Henrietta) recorded his first collegiate hit and RBI, while
Ronnie Canestro (East Amherst, NY/Nichols) scored his first run. Roman was strong in relief, allowing just two runs and seven hits over the fina 5 2/3 innings.
The Tigers return to action on Thursday, when they play Wartburg in a single game at 2:30 p.m.
