ALBANY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College baseball honored 12 student-athletes for their contributions to the program during Saturday’s doubleheader against SUNY Brockport as they celebrated ‘Senior Day’.

Among the twelve honorees were Nolan Sniffen (Ossining, NY/Ossining), Anthony Rizzo (Latham, NY/Shaker/HVCC), Joseph Karpierz (Latham, NY/Shaker/Xavier), Evan Grimes (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa), Mark Yorio (Carmel, NY/Carmel/Lycoming/Westchester CC), Collin Casey (Marlboro, NY/Marlboro/Saint Rose), Xavier Garcia (San Diego, CA/Saratoga Springs/SUNY Adirondack), Shane Smith (Groton, NY/Groton/Tompkins Cortland CC), Aidan Green (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro/Onondaga CC), Greg Mays (Troy, NY/Tamarac/SUNY Cortland), Andrew Santa Barbara (Ballston Spa, NY/Ballston Spa/SUNY Adirondack), and Richie Tamsett (Canajoharie, NY/Canajoharie/HVCC).

The Gators (24-5/13-1 E8) split the doubleheader with the Golden Eagles, taking sole possession of first place in the Empire 8 Conference.

Game one went to the visiting Golden Eagles with a final score of 7-4. Green got the nod on the hill for RSC, contributing nine innings of work while allowing just one earned run.

The contest was square at four after five innings, and stayed that way until the eighth, where Brockport got one across. The Golden Eagles scratched across two more in the top of ninth, enough cushion to secure the victory.

The RSC runs came in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, starting with a sacrifice fly from freshman Nick Irizarry (South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) in the third. Junior Connor Griffin (Jersey Shore, PA/Jersey Shore/Lock Haven) drove a run in with a single in the fourth, before Grimes blasted a two-run homer in the fifth.

Game two was a much quieter start, as the first run went up on the scoreboard in the third inning as Matthew Coon drove in a run for Brockport. The Gators scored two runs in four different innings as they won their 14th Empire 8 Conference contest 8-2, and took the three-game set with the Golden Eagles.

Darren Dengler (Hobart, NY/South Kortright) had a pair of two-run doubles, one in the fourth and one in the fifth. The sophomore also worked a pair of walks in the victory.

The other four RSC runs came via the big fly, headlined by the second two-run blast of the day from Grimes. Griffin and Casey each cleared the left field fence, propelling the Gators to the 8-2 victory.

Rizzo had three hits in the nightcap, while stealing a base and scoring twice.

“Really proud of our group today for bouncing back in game three,” said Head Coach Matt Marsh. “Game three is about who wants it more and mental toughness and we stayed mentally tough and continued to battle. In the middle innings we were able to separate, our ball flight was tremendous all day, we were on a line a ton. Our starting pitching and bullpen was great today. Aidan Green and Xavier Garcia both did a great job. We did a better job backing up our pitching staff in game two. I’m really really proud of our guys for being able to execute when called upon. The energy in the dugout throughout the weekend was also tremendous as well, and I am excited to continue to grow heading into our midweeks and next weekend.”

RSC is scheduled to return to the Diamond on Tuesday at Union.