Baseball | 5/17/2026 12:26:36 AM
SCHENECTADY, NY – No. 12 Russell Sage College Baseball had its historic spring come to a close on the second day of the NCAA Regional, hosted by The College at Schenectady's Central Park.
After defeating Trinity 7-4 in the morning elimination game, the first-ever NCAA Tournament victory for the entire Department, the Gators were limited to just three hits in an 8-5 loss to Penn State Harrisburg.
About 45 minutes following a literal walk-off loss to Randolph-Macon, the Lions, the United East Conference Champions, responded quickly. Freshman outfielder James Quici, who went 3-for-5 with a homer, two runs scored, and three RBI against the Gators on Friday, led off with a home run.
RSC (37-8), coming in at number 12 in the most recent NPI, put across a run in each of the first two frames to go up 2-1 after two.
Senior Evan Grimes (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa/SUNY Adirondack) lofted a first inning sacrifice fly to plate freshman outfielder Nick Irizarry (South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield), who walked to begin the inning. Grimes paced the RSC offense during its three-game NCAA run, batting a team-high .556 (5-for-9) with three runs scored and two RBI.
A pair of walks and a PSH wild pitch put the Gators up 2-1 in the second.
Penn State Harrisburg (35-14) turned the tide in the middle innings, scoring at least one run in the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh frames to hold a 7-2 lead.
The Lions took control with a three-run fifth. Sophomore designated hitter Matthew Johansen had the big hit of the rally, a two-run single with one out. He went 1-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored.
By comparison, the PSH bullpen locked down the high-powered Gator offense, retiring 14 in-a-row at one point.
In the eighth, RSC designated hitter Jayden Kennedy (East Patchogue, NY/Patchogue Medford/HVCC) blasted a three-run homer for the final margin. It was the third big fly for the junior during the Regional. The first-team All-Conference pick had eight RBI across the three games.
In Saturday's opener, with the game tied at 2-2, the Gators scored two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to take a lead they would not relinquish. The triumph was the first in the NCAA Tournament for the program, in just its fifth season. It was also the first NCAA win for the entire RSC Athletic Department.
Senior infielder Joseph Karpierz (Latham, NY/Shaker/Xavier) paced the Gators by going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and and RBI. Senior outfielder Evan Grimes (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) contributed two hits in three at bats, to go along with a run scored and and RBI.
Senior infielder Anthony Rizzo (Latham, NY/Shaker/HVCC) scored two runs, while senior catcher Colin Casey (Marlboro, NY/Marlboro/Saint Rose) and junior infielder Jayden Kennedy (East Patchogue, NY/Patchogue Medford/HVCC) cleared the fence.
Senior Aidan Green (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro/Onondaga CC) (Win, 8-1) went the distance for the Gators. The right-hander, now with the most wins in a season by an RSC pitcher, allowed just eight hits and struck out six Bantams.
The Gators got started quickly, scoring a pair of runs in the first inning. With one out, Rizzo was hit by a pitch. He came around to score on back-to-back singles by Karpierz and Grimes. Karpierz then crossed home on a fielder's choice by
The Bantams (27-15) strung three hits around an RSC error to knot the win-or-go-home contest in the third.
In the fourth, RSC broke the deadlock with a two-run homer to left. The Gators added a pair of runs in the fifth. With one out, Karpierz singled home Rizzo, who had doubled. The shortstop came around to score on another RBI groundout by Kennedy. A Kennedy solo blast in the seventh closed the scoring.
The Lions will now have a rematch with Randolph-Macon (28-14), receiving votes in the latest ABCA national poll, in the Regional Finals tomorrow. PSH will need to defeat Randolph-Macon twice to advance the Super Regionals.
Gator Bites with Papa John's: Russell Sage College Baseball, in its fifth season as a program, won the second Empire 8 Conference Tournament Championship in Athletic Department history...RSC Women's Soccer won the first E8 crown for the Department in the spring of 2021...The Gators, in their first season under the direction of Head Coach Matt Marsh, set the program single-season wins record…The Gators won the first NCAA Tournament win for the Athletic Department on Saturday, a 7-4 win vs. Trinity...As the Empire 8 Conference Regular Season and Tournament Champions, the Gators automatically qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time…Friday was the first home NCAA Tournament game for the Athletic Department…Heading into the NCAA Tournament, Russell Sage is No. 12 in the NPI…