Gator Bats Explode to Sweep Houghton and Begin Empire 8 Play 3-0
Russell Sage College baseball completed the three-game sweep over Houghton on Monday afternoon, winning both ends of the afternoon twin bill.
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 1 |
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 7 | 2 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 3 |
|
|
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | X | 19 | 12 | 1 |
ALBANY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College baseball completed the three-game sweep over Houghton on Monday afternoon, winning both ends of the afternoon twin bill.
The Gators (14-3/3-0 E8) were working from behind in the opener, as they trailed 5-1 through six and a half innings.
RSC began to battle back in the bottom of the seventh, scoring three runs headlined by a RBI double from senior Anthony Rizzo (Latham, NY/Shaker/HVCC) and a sacrifice fly off the bat of sophomore John Kelleher (Monroe, NY/Monroe Woodbury).
The Highlanders answered back with a pair off a two-run home run by James Nelson and led 7-4 entering the bottom of the eighth.
Sophomore Mitch Neer (Newburgh, NY/Marlboro) hit an RBI-double and Rizzo scored on a passed ball to cut the Houghton advantage to just one.
In the bottom of the ninth, a walk and a pair of hit-by-pitches brought up Evan Grimes (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) with the bases loaded, who proceeded to blast the 1-0 offering over the right field fence and give the Gators a 10-7 victory.
The Gators trailed once again in the nightcap, down 9-8 entering the bottom of the sixth inning. RSC's eight runs were highlighted by another big fly from Grimes, this time a three-run shot in the bottom of the second inning.
The bats came back alive in the bottom of the sixth, as the Gators piled on eleven runs to flip the score and pick up a 19-9 run-rule victory in seven innings.
17 batters reached the plate compiling five hits to score the game-sealing eleven runs. Grimes and senior Colin Casey (Marlboro, NY/Marlboro/Saint Rose) each tripled and drove in a run, while senior infielder Joseph Karpierz (Latham, NY/Shaker/Xavier) and freshman Nick Irizarry (South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) each ripped RBI-doubles.
Karpierz and Grimes each had a trio of hits in the win, while Irizarry and Casey both had two.
Rizzo, Karpierz, and sophomore James Mitchell (Oak Ridge, NC/Northwest Guilford) all drove in a run in the effort.
"It was a great series win," shared Grimes, who finished the day with four hits, two homers, nine RBIs, and five runs scored. "I think that this is going to get the boys hot, keep it rolling, and continue to do our thing and have success."
The Gators scored double-digit runs in all three victories over Houghton (8-6/2-3 E8), totaling 42 runs on 31 hits to begin Empire 8 Conference play 3-0.
RSC continues E8 play on Wednesday as they host Utica.
Gator Bites with Papa John's: RSC is in its first season under the direction of Head Coach Matt Marsh…The Gators are coming off a 27-15 record and a trip to the Empire 8 Conference Championship Tournament Finals last year…19 returners combine with 18 newcomers on this year's squad…Senior pitcher/outfielder Evan Grimes (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa/SUNY Adirondack), senior catcher Collin Casey (Marlboro, NY/Marlboro/Saint Rose), and senior pitcher Xavier Garcia (San Diego, CA/Saratoga Springs/SUNY Adirondack) headline the returners…Grimes garnered a multitude of honors after last season, being named to the First-Team in the Empire 8 and Second-Team All-Region from the ACBA…Casey was named second-team All-Empire 8 for the 2025 campaign… Senior infielder Joseph Karpierz (Latham, NY/Shaker/Xavier), junior infielder Jayden Kennedy (East Patchogue, NY/Patchogue Medford/HVCC), and junior pitcher Tyler Murray (East Greenbush, NY/Columbia/HVCC) highlight the newcomers… Grimes was named the Empire 8 Conference Pitcher of the Week for the period ending Sunday, March 1...The lefty registered an eleven strikeout performance across 5.2 innings in the 2-0 season-opening win vs. Mount Saint Vincent on February 28...The All-Region performer allowed just two hits and two walks to help the Gators begin their season in the win column...Karpierz was selected the Empire 8 Conference Baseball Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday, March 15...The infielder batted .522 (12/23) with nine runs scored and 13 RBI across six games...Karpierz, who slugged .826, reached base at a 58.1 percent clip...He tallied five doubles and went 4-for-4 on stolen base attempts...Grimes was named the Empire 8 Conference Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday, March 22...He hit .529 with nine RBI in the 4-0 week...The senior, who scored three runs and totaled 16 bases, slugged .941 and reached base at a .556 rate...Garcia was named the Empire 8 Conference Pitcher of the Week for the period ending Sunday, March 22...The senior allowed three hits and zero earned runs to earn the win against Western New England on March 21.
