Knights Battle RPI in Midweek Doubleheader

Senior Jarrod Mattingly has two victories so far this year - Photo by Tommy Szarka

After postponing multiple games due to weather this season, the Clarkson University Baseball team will finally take the field for the first time outside the state of Florida when they travel to take on Liberty League foe Rensselaer in a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 pm.

The team last played on March 18th, beating Hope College 5-1 on the final day of their Florida trip. The Golden Knights went 4-4 down south, alternating wins and losses through their first four games before losing a pair and winning a pair to wrap up the road trip.

Freshman Eddie Miller (Lake Grove, NY) and senior Jarrod Mattingly (Philadelphia, NY) both hurled complete game victories for the Green and Gold in Florida. Miller allowed only three hits and one unearned run as he helped Clarkson defeat Brockport State 7-1 back on March 16th. Freshman Dom Pirro (Liverpool, NY) and senior Dan Lenney (Clifton Park, NY) both homered in the game, and Lenney scored three runs to pace the Knights. Mattingly tossed a gem against Hope, going nine innings and allowing just one run. Pirro got the scoring started with an RBI single in the 4th inning and sophomore Anthony Padrazo (Setaucket, NY) broke things open with a two-run single in the 8th to earn Mattingly his second win of the spring.

His first win of the year came in the second game for Clarkson, as Mattingly threw 5.2 innings and allowed five runs to Oneonta State. He would receive all the offense he would need in the first inning, however, as the Knights scored six runs before the Red Dragons stepped to the plate. Lenney got the scoring started when he ripped a two-run triple to right center, and a sacrifice fly, followed by an RBI single and a two-run error would plate four more runs in the top of the first. Oneonta would get three back between the second and third innings, but Clarkson would add another seven runs in the top of the sixth inning to cruise to victory. Junior John Coleman (Potsdam, NY) would start the scoring with a two-run single and would score on a base hit by sophomore Greg Jasek (Chittenango, NY). One of three errors on the Red Dragons would lead to three more runs later in the frame, and Clarkson would go on to win 13-5.

Coleman is one of four players to start in all eight games this season, batting .300 with 5 RBI and seven runs scored. He also has a record of 1-0 on the mound, pitching two scoreless innings in relief as the Knights walked it off against Grinnell College for their third win of the year.

RPI enters the game with a record of 8-2, with their two losses coming in a 13-0 loss to SUNY Cortland and a 1-0 loss to The College of New Jersey. The preseason favorites in the Liberty League have scored an average of 8.4 runs per contest this season and are led by Nick Palmiero's .500 average and 13 RBI. The Engineers are battling the elements just like the Knights, and have not played in a game since March 15th.

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