ROCHESTER, N.Y. โ The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) baseball team put on an offensive clinic on Sunday morning, dismantling Liberty League rival Clarkson University 13-3. The game, played under rainy and cold conditions, was called after seven innings due to the 10-run mercy rule, allowing the Tigers to clinch the weekend series two games to one.
The Tigers wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, erupting for a massive six-run second inning that set the tone for the rest of the game. Roberto Reade sparked the rally with a leadoff double to left-center. He was quickly brought home by a Mikey Zacher RBI single. Trent Rapp kept the line moving with another run-scoring hit before Jarin Moses delivered the crushing blowโa towering three-run home run over the left-field fence.
Clarkson attempted to claw their way back into the contest, scratching across two runs in the third inning and adding another in the fourth to cut the deficit to 6-3. However, the RIT bats refused to stay quiet. In the bottom of the sixth, Max Matteucci launched a two-run homer of his own, extending the Tigers' lead to a comfortable 8-3 margin and crushing any hopes of a Golden Knights comeback.
The Tigers officially put the game out of reach in the bottom of the seventh inning with a relentless five-run barrage. After a pair of RBI knocks and aggressive baserunning that included steals by Rapp and Zacher, Clarkson's pitching staff unravelled. Back-to-back bases-loaded walks drawn by Charlie Slaymaker and Hayes Waddell forced in the final two runs, triggering the mercy rule and ending the game at 13-3.
On the mound, starter Liam Miller battled through the elements, striking out three over 2.2 innings of work. The bullpen then took over, with Ryan Moran pitching brilliantly in relief. Moran tossed 4.1 innings, allowing just one earned run while striking out three to earn his second victory of the season and improve his record to 2-0.
With the dominant win, RIT improves to 7-8 overall on the season and starts their Liberty League conference schedule with a strong 2-1 record. The Tigers will look to keep their offensive momentum rolling when they step out of conference play to host Oswego State this Wednesday afternoon.