Baseball | 3/24/2012 3:05:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Click here for game one stats -- Click here for game two stats

ROCHESTER, NY - The RIT baseball team (5-8, 1-3 Liberty League) dropped both ends of a Liberty League doubleheader to Rensselaer (6-8, 3-1 Liberty League) by scores of 5-4 and 14-5 on Saturday afternoon at RIT Field. Rensselaer Head Coach Karl Steffen won his 700th career game in the nightcap.

In game one, RIT, serving as the visiting team, trailed 4-2 heading into the top of the seventh inning before scoring a pair of runs to tie the game at 4-4. Greg Schworm (Rochester, NY/Churchville Chili) and Jon Meyer (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Sutherland) walked and then advanced on an infield single by Brian Brazee (Auburn, NY/Auburn). All three runners advanced on a balk by Jason Griffith, making the score 4-3. After another walk, Jaren Bell (Rochester, NY/Brighton) singled to left field, tying the game. RIT nearly went ahead, as with two outs, #C.J. Bolorin# hit a hard line drive right at the right fielder, ending the inning.

The first two Engineers batters grounded out, then Eric Kozak and Art Levenson were both hit by pitch. Jimmy Foley hit a walk-off bloop single to left field, scoring pinch runner Dan Duval to end the game.

RPI led 3-0 before RIT rallied with two runs in the top of the fifth. The Tigers left 11 men on base, while the Engineers stranded nine runners.

Chuck Erickson led RPI with a pair of hits. Griffith earned the win despite the blown save. Jared Jensen got the start, allowing seven hits and two runs in 4 2/3 innings.

RIT slammed 11 hits. Walt Roman (Spencerport, NY/Spencerport) was 2-for-3 with a run scored and driven in. Brian Brazee (Auburn, NY/Auburn) was 2-for-4 with a RBI, while Kreag Bradley (Victor, NY/Victor) was 2-for-4 with a run scored. On the mound, Ron Canestro (East Amherst, NY/Nichols) allowed just an earned run in 4 2/3 innings, but walked five batters, while striking out five. Dan Schuster (Livonia, NY/Livonia) took the loss in relief.

In game two, RIT led 5-3 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning before the Engineers scored four in the bottom half to take a 7-5 lead. RPI broke the game open with seven runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, the big blow coming on a grand slam by Kyle Kopacz.

Brian Malin earned the win for RPI, pitching 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. Chuck Erickson was 2-for-5 and drove in the eventual game-winning runs on a three-run opposite field home run in the fifth inning. Four Engineers had at least two hits.

Roman was 3-for-4 with three runs batted in. He drove in a run with a double in the third inning then crushed a mammoth two-run home run to left field in the fifth inning, giving RIT its only lead of the game. Canestro scored three runs, while Meyer drove in a pair of runs.

Rensselaer leads the all-time series between the two schools, 47-17. Yesterday, the two teams split a doubleheader with Rensselaer winning game one, 6-0, and RIT taking game two, 5-4.

The Tigers return to action on Saturday, March 31, as they travel east to play a doubleheader against Union. The first game gets underway at 12 p.m.