Hamilton shuts down Rochester Institute of Technology

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Six Hamilton College pitchers combined on a two-hitter and the Continentals posted a 6-2 non-conference victory against the Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers at Hamilton's Loop Road Baseball/Softball Complex late Wednesday afternoon.

The Continentals (13-12 overall) scored a single run in the third inning, two in the fourth, two more in the fifth and one in the seventh on a towering home run to right field by Craig Sandford '19. The round-tripper was the first of Sandford's career. RIT scored both of its runs in the sixth inning without the benefit of a hit.

Sandford and Adam Wijaya '22 scored two runs apiece, Joe Suski '21 drove in a pair, and Nate Goodman '20 went 2-for-2 before he was lifted for a pinch-runner in the third inning. Gavin Schaefer-Hood '21 (6-1) tied a program record with his sixth win this season. Schaefer-Hood allowed a bunt single to the first batter he faced and retired the next nine in a row before he was taken out after the third inning. Chris Keane '20 retired all six batters he faced and Jamie Hauswirth '22 got the last two outs in the sixth and pitched the entire seventh as he didn't allow any runs. Kenny Gray '20 struck out two in a scoreless eighth and Ian Nish '19 tossed a perfect ninth.

Navada Waterman went 1-for-3 with a walk and Ian Humes went 1-for-2 with a free pass for the Tigers (12-13). Waterman and Humes scored the runs, and Joey Mylott and Daniel Zeglen drove them in. Jack Leahey (0-1) surrendered one run on a hit and three walks in two innings and took the loss.

Hamilton grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third inning with a one-out rally. Ethan Wallis '21 walked and went to second on Goodman's single to left field. Matt Zaffino '21eventually loaded the bases with a walk and Rich Marooney '21 plated Wallis with a sacrifice fly to deep center field.

The Continentals used small ball to increase their lead to three runs in the fourth. Graham McOsker '20 drew a leadoff walk but was erased on a fielder's choice. Keane -- in his first collegiate at-bat -- bunted towards the first base side of the mound and was safe when nobody covered first. Suski loaded the bases after his sacrifice bunt was bobbled by the pitcher, and Wallis drove in Wijaya with a single to right field. With the bases still packed, Schaefer-Hood brought in Keane with a ground ball out to the pitcher.

Hamilton added some insurance runs in the fifth. Sandford was hit by a pitch for the third time this year and moved to second on a single up the middle by Wijaya. After a double steal, David Braverman '19 walked to load the bases, and Suski drove in Wijaya and Sandford with a single up the middle.

RIT cut its deficit to 5-2 in the sixth with two runs on three walks, a hit batsman and a sacrifice fly. Sandford's blast in the seventh was the third home run hit by the Continentals this year.

Hamilton travels to Trinity College for a doubleheader on Saturday, April 20 at 1 p.m.