TROY, NY – The RIT baseball team (5-3, 2-0 Liberty League) began defense of its Liberty League title by sweeping a pair of games against Union College (6-4, 0-2 Liberty League) from Lansingburgh High School Friday afternoon. RIT took game one, 10-2 and rallied to win game two, 9-6. RIT has now won 24 consecutive games against Liberty League foes dating back to last season.

RIT used a one big inning in each game to rally. The Tigers offense recorded 18 hits and drew 14 walks in the two games.

In game one, RIT trailed 1-0 before exploding for seven runs in the top of the fourth inning. RIT added two more in the fifth and one more in the sixth for the win.

Joey Mylott (Aurora, OH/Western Reserve Academy) went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run, the first of his collegiate career, scoring a pair of runs and driving in three. He notched single-game career-highs in hits, RBIs and runs. Benjamin Terzini (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) was 2-for-4 with a double, run scored and career-best three RBIs. Daniel Zeglen (Scotia, NY/Scotia-Glenville) went 2-for-4 with a run scored and RBI.

The Tigers scored five of their seven runs in the fourth inning with two outs. Four batters were hit by a pitch in the inning. Terzini had the big blow, a bases-clearing double down the left field line to make it a 6-1 game.

Starting pitcher Brian Reed (Rochester, NY/Penfield) was tremendous, allowing just five hits and three walks, while striking out a season-high nine batters in the complete-game effort. Reed, the 2017 Liberty League Pitcher of the Year, has now won nine consecutive starts against Liberty League foes dating back to April 28, 2016. It was the sixth complete game of his career.

The Tigers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning of game two, only to see Union tie the game in the bottom of the second inning. After RIT scored in the third to regain the lead, Union responded with four runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a 6-3 lead. Like game one, RIT used a big inning to regain the lead for good, scoring five times in the fourth inning, all with two outs to take an 8-6 lead. RIT added a run in the sixth inning.

Senior Brett Bouchard (Fairport, NY/Fairport), an All-Liberty League first team selection a year ago, was spectacular in relief, coming in with one out in the fourth inning and closed out the Dutchmen, allowing just three hits over 5 2/3 innings, striking out four batters. He needed just 65 pitches to get 17 outs and earn his first win of the season.

With two outs in the fourth, Navada Waterman (Coudersport, PA/Coudersport) walked and eventually scored on a double by Patrick Mylott (Aurora, OH/Western Reserve Academy) to cut the Union lead to 6-4. Dom Scialabba (North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick), Benjamin Terzini (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) and Zeglen drew consecutive walks, Zeglen's coming with the bases loaded to score Mylott and make it a 6-5 game. Jason Schulz (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) would double to score two and give RIT the lead for good, 7-6.  Zeglen scored on a wild pitch to make it 8-6 Tigers.

RIT's top six hitters in the lineup drew nine walks and had eight of its nine hits. Patrick Mylott (Aurora, OH/Western Reserve Academy) doubled twice and scored three runs, while Scialabba reached base four teams (two hits and two walks), driving in a pair of runs. Waterman and Terzini also reached base three times apiece.

Colin Kelly and Sean Cullen both homered for Union in game two.Josh Garber kept thre Dutchmen in the game, allowing just one run, while striking out six batters in 5 1/3 innings of relief.

"I am very happy with our start in conference play," said RIT head coach Rob Grow. "The offense really responded when down in game two and Bouch came in and shut down their momentum."

RIT and Union wrap up their regular season series on Saturday afternoon from Lansingburg High School at 12 p.m.