Gators Win 13th Straight Empire 8 Conference Game
Russell Sage College baseball improved to 13-0 in Empire 8 Conference play on Friday evening, defeating SUNY Brockport 10-6.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
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2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 3 |
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2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 10 | 9 | 2 |
ALBANY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College baseball improved to 13-0 in Empire 8 Conference play on Friday evening, defeating SUNY Brockport 10-6.
It was a back and forth contest across the first two innings, as the Golden Eagles scored in the top of the first and second innings, and were answered with Gator runs in the bottom half of both frames.
The Gators (24-4/13-0 E8) led 4-3 heading into the bottom of the fourth, where they took control and put up five runs in the frame, highlighted by two-run singles from seniors Evan Grimes (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) and Collin Casey (Marlboro, NY/Marlboro/Saint Rose). Casey wrapped up the big inning by coming around to score on a sacrifice bunt from junior Connor Griffin (Jersey Shore, PA/Jersey Shore/Lock Haven).
RSC scored its tenth run in the bottom of the fifth, an RBI single from senior Anthony Rizzo (Latham, NY/Shaker/HVCC) that drove in freshman Nick Irizarry (South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield).
Irizarry etched his name into the Russell Sage Baseball record book on Friday, setting a new program standard for stolen bases in a season, surpassing the former record of 34 from '25 Jared Russell in the 2024 season. The rookie swiped two bags to bring his season total to 36. Irizarry currently sits atop the Empire 8 in stolen bases, and is second in all of Division III in the stat.
SUNY Brockport (16-13/12-0 E8) attempted a comeback in the late innings, scoring three runs thanks to a two-run homer from Matthew Coon and a RBI-double from Matt Mayer, but it wasn't enough as RSC cemented the 10-6 win.
Grimes got the start on the hill, picking up his fourth pitching victory of the season. Grimes and senior Greg Mays (Troy, NY/Tamarac/SUNY Cortland) combined to retire six Golden Eagles on strikes in the win.
"It was a really good team win today," said Head Coach Matt Marsh after the 10-6 win. "There were multiple points in the game that we executed bunts. Our dirt ball reads were tremendous today. Evan Grimes did a really good job of settling in after the first two innings to give us four scoreless. Greg Mays did a really good job staying consistent late in the game. Our team stays consistent inning one to inning nine and I am really really proud of them."
The Gators wrap their series with the Golden Eagles on Saturday as they celebrate 'Senior Day' with a doubleheader.
Gator Bites with Papa John's: Russell Sage College Baseball 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…19 returners combine with 18 newcomers on this year's squad…Senior pitcher/outfielder Evan Grimes (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa/SUNY Adirondack), senior catcher Colin 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 American Baseball Coaches Association…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 E8 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 E8 Baseball Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday, March 15...He batted .522 (12/23) with nine runs scored and 13 RBI across six games...The infielder, who slugged .826 and reached base at a 58.1 percent clip, 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…The Gators received seven votes in the March 31st edition of the ABCA Division III Coaches Poll, the first time receiving votes in program history…Grimes was named the Empire 8 Conference Player of the Week for the period ending on Sunday, April 5...The senior hit .385 with 17 RBI in the 7-0 week including a walk-off grand slam against Houghton...On the mound, the lefty went 2-0 with 16 strikeouts across 13 innings...RSC earned 19 votes in the April 7th ABCA national poll…The Gators broke the program single-season record for steals in a season during the home doubleheader sweep of Alfred on April 11…RSC entered Tuesday's non-conference game at Williams with three of the top-four base stealers in the Conference…Karpierz was tabbed the E8 Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday, April 12…He batted .529 (9-for-17) with nine runs scored and 13 RBI in the 4-0 week…The senior, who totaled 20 bases, slugged 1.176 and registered a .600 on-base percentage…Outfielder Nick Irizarry (South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) was selected the E8 Rookie of the Week for the period ending Sunday, April 12… The freshman batted .357 with five runs scored, six stolen bases and ten RBI in the 4-0 week…He has been setting the table effectively, successfully swiping bases on 29 of his first 30 collegiate stolen base attempts…RSC began the spring with a 22-3 overall record, 11-0 in E8 play…The Gators opened their Conference schedule out-scoring opponents by a 141-36 margin…RSC was pummeling E8 pitchers to the tune of a .405 batting average, while keeping the opposition to hit just .203…Karpierz entered Tuesday's game at Williams leading the Conference in hitting at .490…The infielder, who helped RSC bat .344 as a team, topped the E8 with a .570 on-base percentage and 40 runs scored…Grimes is among the Conference leaders at the plate and on the mound…The southpaw began the week leading the E8 with 50 strikeouts across 36.2 innings, the third-most on the circuit…He is second in the Conference with four triples, third with three homers and fifth with 34 RBI…In addition to Grimes, seniors Aidan Green (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro/Onondaga CC) and Garcia have started the spring strong on the mound…Green commenced the week fourth in the E8 with 35.2 innings pitched and a 2.78 ERA…The duo both start the week with 4-0 records and six games started.
