HOUGHTON, N.Y. – Russell Sage College baseball won a pair of games against Houghton on Saturday, completing the weekend sweep of the Highlanders and starting Empire 8 conference play 3-0.

The Gators (9-7/3-0 E8) took the opening seven-inning contest 7-0 on the back of an outstanding start from Joe Degroot (Clay, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse). The grad student gave up just one hit in six innings of shutout ball for his second win of the season. Junior Nolan Sniffen (Ossining, NY/Ossining) closed the door for RSC, striking out one in a hitless seventh inning.

Junior catcher Colin Casey (Marlboro, NY/Marlboro/Saint Rose) drove in a pair of runs on a double in the seventh inning to propel the Gator offense. 

Game two started much differently for Russell Sage, as Houghton (10-8/2-4 E8) held a 9-2 advantage heading into the seventh, before the Gators exploded for ten runs in the seventh and eighth innings to claim the 12-9 victory and the doubleheader sweep.

Senior Jeff Stearns (Vergennes, VT/Vergennes Union) topped the offense, going four-for-five with a pair of RBI's and a run scored. Three others had multiple hits in the win, as senior Zachary Figueras (Apopka, FL/Windermere) and senior Jared Russell (Colonie, NY/Colonie) each had three hits, while junior Anthony Rizzo (Latham, NY/Shaker/HVCC) added a pair. 

Casey struck again in the nightcap, hitting his first homerun of the season, a solo shot in the third inning to get the Gator scoring started. Outfielder James Lubanski (Port Washington, NY/Paul D. Schreiber), a grad student drove in a pair of runs with a double in the seven run eighth to cap off the victory.

"Today was two games with two teams battling back and forth. Every guy on our roster did a great job, and was locked into whatever the task was for the day," shared Head Coach Nick Pontari. "We're excited to get back to work in practice for more conference play this week!"

The Gators continue Empire 8 conference play on Wednesday as they travel to Utica for a doubleheader.

Gator Bites with Papa John's: RSC looks to build upon the most successful season in program history in 2025…Coming off a 16-2 record in Empire 8 Conference play and a regular season championship, the Gators return 25 players to go along with 18 newcomers…Graduate outfielder James Lubanski (Port Washington, NY/Paul D. Schreiber), senior infielder Jeff Stearns (Vergennes, VT/Vergennes Union), graduate pitcher Joe Degroot (Clay, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse), and senior pitcher/outfielder Evan Grimes (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) highlight the returners…Lubanski, Stearns, and Grimes made first team All-E8 conference, while Degroot found himself on the second team…Four others earned all-conference honors in 2024, including senior outfielder Jared Russell (Colonie, NY/Colonie) and senior catcher Cole Paro (Wolfeboro NH/Kingswood Regional), who were both named third team All-E8… Junior infielder Anthony Rizzo (Latham, NY/Shaker/HVCC), junior catcher Colin Casey (Marlboro, NY/Marlboro/Saint Rose), and graduate pitcher Freddie Callo (Milton, NY/Marlboro/Utica) headline the newcomers Head Coach Nick Pontari brought in…Pontari and his staff were named E8 Coaching Staff of the Year in 2024.