Baseball | 5/2/2026 8:44:23 PM
HORSEHEADS, NY – Russell Sage College Baseball, who clinched the Empire 8 Conference Regular Season Championship based upon results around the conference on Friday, swept an Empire 8 Conference Doubleheader against Elmira on Saturday afternoon. The Gators (32-5/20-1 E8) used an eight-run top of the seventh inning to secure a 12-5 victory in game one and took game two, 18-7.
Senior Evan Grimes (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa), the reigning Empire 8 Conference Pitcher of the Week, got the start on the hill and retired the first 17 batters he faced. The lefty, who sits atop the conference ranks in a handful of categories, punched out ten in the win.
The two-way contributed offensively as well, as he was a home run away from the cycle and scored a trio of runs.
Junior Jayden Kennedy (East Patchogue, NY/Patchogue Medford/HVCC) drove in three runs on a trio of hits including a double, while sophomore Darren Dengler (Hobart, NY/South Kortright) drove in two runs with a single and a double.
Senior Joseph Karpierz (Latham, NY/Shaker/Xavier), freshman Nick Irizarry (South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield), and sophomore John Kelleher (Monroe, NY/Monroe Woodbury) all had two hits in the victory.
In game two, the RSC offense continued to roll, as the Gators got out to an 18-0 lead through four frames, and picked up their 32nd victory of the season.
Grimes once again was a big fly away from the cycle, driving in two runs in the nightcap, while Karpierz went 1-2 and drove in four runs.
Four other Gators brought home a pair of runs, as seniors Anthony Rizzo (Latham, NY/Shaker/HVCC) and Collin Casey (Marlboro, NY/Marlboro/Saint Rose), junior Matt Rinaldi (Wynnewood, PA/Lower Merion), and Irizarry all drove in two.
Junior Connor Griffin (Jersey Shore, PA/Jersey Shore/Lock Haven) joined in on the fun with a solo shot in the second, while Kennedy drove in his fourth run of the day.
Senior Aidan Green (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro/Onondaga CC) got the start in game two, striking out six as he tossed four innings of scoreless ball.
RSC finishes its regular season on Sunday with a single game against Elmira.
The Gators have set the program single-season wins record and will host the double elimination portion of the E8 Championship Tournament May 7-9 at Central Park "A" Diamond in Schenectady…RSC also was the E8 regular season champs and top seed in 2024…RSC has now made the playoffs in all five years that it has been a program.