HOBOKEN, N.J. (March 5, 2017)  – Senior Michael Mule' hit a two-out, walk-off single and sophomore Danny Poidomani struck out a career-high 14 over seven dominant innings as the Stevens Institute of Technology Baseball Team swept Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (6-5, 7-0) Sunday afternoon in non-conference action at Dobbelaar Field.

Senior Garrett Wells totaled four hits and freshman Patrick Rood and sophomore Matt Branco homered for the Ducks, who improved to 3-3-1 after the two-game sweep.

Sam Lawrence collected three hits and Yahriel Jimenez drove in two runs for the Engineers, who fell to 0-5.

Mule's heroics concluded a two-run, two-out, ninth-inning rally in which Stevens sent six batters to the plate against a pair of RPI pitchers.

Freshman Eric Zickert led the final frame off with a single to third off Patrick McMackin (0-1). The speedy shortstop danced around first base and caused enough of a distraction that McMackin struggled to find the strike zone against Shaye Bartnick and walked the freshman first baseman. The walk prompted an immediate pitching change from RPI, with hard-throwing reliever Mike Paleologopoulos coming on to try and close the game out.

After the pitching change, senior Harrison Kaye pinch ran for Bartnick at first as the potential winning run. Paleologopoulos promptly struck out Nolan Bennett struck out and induced a flyout from Zeph Walters..

Down to their last out, Rood smashed a hard hit down the third base line, that caromed off the glove of Christian Spagnuola and into left field, plating Zickert and advancing Kaye to third. After fouling off multiple pitches, Mule' drove a 3-2 fastball over the head of centerfielder Weston Hawkins, easily scoring Kaye and drawing the Stevens dugout out on the field in celebration.

Walters (1-0) scattered two hits over three scoreless innings to earn the win.

Using the momentum of the walk-off win, the Ducks jumped on RPI starter Brendan McNerney (0-1) from the night cap's opening pitch. Four of the game's first five batters reached against the right-hander, punctuated by Walters' RBI single.  McNerney allowed four runs on five hits in just 2 2-3 innings in his first start of the season. 

Staked with an early lead, Poidomani (1-2) settled in and silenced the RPI offense on a blustery afternoon in Hoboken. The Rochelle Park, N.J. native scattered just three hits and walked one in the best start of his career, striking out the side in the third and fourth innings.

Stevens increased its lead in their half of the third. Nolan Bennett was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Mule' stroked a single to center to score the designated hitter. The speedy outfield promptly stole second and scored on sophomore Carlos Leon's RBI double. Wells followed Leon with an opposite field double to end McNerney's day.

Chris Cap and Drew Hanke, in his first career appearance, combined for two hitless innings to close the game.

Up Next: Stevens welcomes No. 16/No. 17 The College of New Jersey to Dobbelaar Field for a non-conference game Tuesday afternoon.

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