Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT bats were on fire despite cold, windy conditions Monday as the Tigers (9-3, 3-0 Liberty League) combined to score 33 runs and pound out 26 hits in a doubleheader sweep of St. Lawrence University (8-4, 4-3 Liberty League) on the campus of University of Rochester. RIT won game one, 17-1 and came back to win game two, 16-13. The Tigers have won four in a row and open Liberty League play 3-0 for the first time since joining the league.

Sophomore Phil Sammon (Ridgefield, CT/Ridgefield) combined to go 5-for-8 on the day with driving in six runs, while scoring two runs. Will Gorman (Nassau, NY/Columbia) walked four times in two games and scored six runs. Junior Zach Zabel (Clarence, NY/Clarence) combined to go 3-for-6 on the day three RBI and scored a run. In game one, 10 Tigers had at least one hit, while in game two, eight different Tigers had a hit.
 
In game one, Skip Flanagan (Framingham, MA/Bishop Feehan) blasted a two-run shot over the center field fence in the bottom of the first inning sparking a six-run inning for the Tigers. Chris Barr (North Wales, PA/North Penn ) started the inning with a walk, then stole second. Brett Kajganich (North Royalton, OH/Holy Name) singled, driving in Barr for a 1-0 Tigers lead. After a Gorman walk, Flanagan swung at the first pitch and drove it over the center field fence giving the Tigers a 3-0 lead. RIT would tack on three more runs as they sent 11 men to the plate in the inning.

The Tigers plated runs in each of the first four innings, including three in the second, five in the third and three more in the fourth. In the third inning, Gorman and Sammon each doubled, driving in runs as the Tigers plated five in the inning to break the game wide open. 

Sammon went 3-for-4 for the Tigers, with three RBI and scored three runs. Zach Zabel (Clarence, NY/Clarence) went 2-for-2 with an RBI, while Flanagan went 1-for-2 with a home run, two RBI and scored four runs.
 
Three RIT pitchers combined to scatter five hits, allowing one run. Rory Little (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) got the start, going five innings allowing just one run on five hits. He struck out one and walked two. Brett Bouchard (Fairport, NY/Fairport) pitched a scoreless sixth, while Kyle Povlock (Fairport, NY/Fairport) pitched the seventh, allowing one hit.

In game two, the Tigers kept the hot bats going, scoring four runs in the top of the first. Kajganich got the inning going with a one-out walk. After a Flanagan strike out, Balorin singled, setting up first and third with one out. Balorin stole second and Kagjanich scored when St. Lawrence catcher, Devin Robson air mailed his throw into center field allowing Balorin to advance to third. Balorin scored on a double steal as Gorman stole second after a walk.

St. Lawrence answered back with five runs in the bottom of the second off RIT starter Conor Herlihy (Geneseo, NY/Geneseo). Chris Fernandez had the big blow with a bases loaded double, clearing the bases. The Saints added one run in the bottom of the third, extending their lead to 6-4.

But, the RIT bats came to life in the top of the fourth, scoring seven runs on five hits in the inning. Mike Myers (Hamlin, NY/Brockport) opened the inning with a triple on a drive in the right-center field gap. He scored on a Zabel ground out, making it 6-5 Saints. Barr reached base on an error by the third baseman, advancing to second on the throwing error. He advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on an error by the short stop. Sammon had two RBI in the inning

St. Lawrence came back with three runs in the bottom of the fourth and tied the game at 11-11 with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. RIT took the lead back with a run in the top of the seventh. Zabel walked, stole second and third and scored on an error by the pitcher. The Tigers tacked on three more runs in the top of the eighth and one in the ninth.

Herlihy got the start for RIT, going 3 1/3 innings allowing seven runs on eight hits. He walked on and struck one. David Nitsch (Penfield, NY/Penfield) came on in relief and went 4 1/3 innings allowing five runs, three earned, on six hits. He struck out five and walked two, earning the win. Rich Sammon (Ridgefield, CT/Ridgefield) came on in relief with two outs in the eighth and pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless ball with two walks and three strike outs, picking up the save.

RIT returns to action on Friday, April 3 when the Tigers host Clarkson University for a Liberty League double header beginning at 12 p.m. at Basket Road Park in Webster.