ROCHESTER, NY – Taylor Hogan (Rochester, NY/Brighton) walked off for the second time in three games, as the RIT baseball team (6-5, 2-0 Liberty League) opened Liberty League play by sweeping Clarkson (3-9, 0-2 Liberty League) at Monroe Community College on Friday. RIT won in walk-off fashion by a 2-1 score in game one, and poured it on with a 12-5 victory in game two. RIT has now won four straight games.

Down 1-0 entering the bottom of the seventh inning in game one, Hogan ripped a shot up the middle, scoring Jason Schulz (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) from third, and Dom Scialabba (North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick), the winning run, from second base. It is the second game-winning single from Hogan; he hit a game-winning single in the 15th inning in a 7-6 victory against No. 5 Southern Maine on March 22. Just like the last game winner, it was his only hit of the contest.

The Tiger bats were stymied for the first six innings, only tallying three hits before the final inning. After RIT left a runner in scoring position in the first three innings, Clarkson got on the board first in the fourth inning. After a leadoff walk, Chris Miller was able to head to second base off an error as the pickoff throw was mishandled by the first baseman. One batter later, Will Coleman singled up the middle, scoring Miller.

In the bottom of the frame, the Tigers had an opportunity to tie the game. Mike Myers (Hamlin, NY/Brockport), after leading off with a walk, forced the Clarkson pitcher to balk, advancing to second. After getting to third base on a dropped third strike by Will Gorman (Nassau, NY/Columbia), Schulz struck out to end the threat.

Despite the run given up in the fourth, Rory Little (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) was magnificent in his start. Pitching a complete game, Little struck out five of the first seven batters faced in the contest. He allowed just five hits, striking out nine batters for the victory.

Game two was a much better offensive showcase for the Tigers, but once again they had to rally from behind. Brian Battaglia (Sliver Spring, MD/James Hubert Blake), who finished 2-for-3 with two walks, started things off for the Tigers, driving in the game's first three runs, off an RBI single in the first, and a two-run double in the third inning. Clarkson came back, tacking up five big runs in the fourth, to take the 5-3 lead. RIT responded in the bottom of the frame, when Hogan drove in a run to reduce the deficit to one.

The Tigers would then bust things open, with a big four-run sixth inning. Zach Zabel (Clarence, NY/Clarence) started things off, executing the perfect bunt, scoring a charging Schulz, who avoided the tag from the pitcher, to tie the game. After Hogan reached on an error, Gorman singled into right field, scoring Scialabba and Zabel. Phil Sammon (Ridgefield, CT/Ridgefield) ended the scoring in the sixth, driving in Hogan on the fielder's choice.

The next inning, the Tigers put the game further out of reach. Hogan recorded his fourth RBI of the day, on a single to center field. With the bases loaded in separate situations, both Sammon and Battaglia showed poise at the plate, drawing walks to force a runner in. Hogan finished his scorching day with another RBI single in the eighth inning, making the score 12-5.

The one through five hitters, Zabel, Hogan, Gorman, Sammon, and Battaglia, combined for 11 of the 12 runs. The Tigers combined for 11 hits and drew 11 walks.

Kyle Povlock (Fairport, NY/Fairport) picked up the victory in a strong relief performance. He pitched in four innings, allowing just one hit without giving up a walk.

The Tigers will take on Clarkson tomorrow at Monroe Community College, in a doubleheader starting at noon.