Senior Evan O'Keeffe hit two home runs, one in each game, but the St. Lawrence baseball team dropped the opening doubleheader of its four-game series with Rensselaer 7-4 and 7-1 on Friday afternoon in Troy, New York.

O'Keeffe was a combined 4-for-6 on the day, with two RBI and two runs scored, and was the only Saints player with a pair of multi-hit games with two of the team's three hits in the nightcap.

Senior starter Alex Black threw his third complete game of the season in game one for the Saints, while sophomore Patrick Greenan went 7.0 innings in game two for his longest outing of the season so far.

St. Lawrence outhit the Engineers 9-7 in game one, while RPI held a 12-3 advantage in hits in the second.

Game 1 – RPI 7, St. Lawrence 4

St. Lawrence took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI double to center by Andrew Circelli, but RPI answered with all seven of its runs in the bottom of the frame to put the game out of reach for the Saints.

The Engineers recoded five hits in the bottom of the first, with help from three walks and one St. Lawrence error to pull in front. The eventual game-winning run came in to score on a RBI walk to Jack Moncur that, at the time, gave RPI a 5-1 advantage.

Saints' starter Alex Black, who pitched another complete game in the loss, held the Engineers to just two more hits for the remainder of the game. He finished with four strikeouts, walked five and recorded four wild pitches.

St. Lawrence started to chip away in the top of the third with a sacrifice fly to center by Joe DeGuardia that scored Nicholas Butler to cut the deficit to 7-2.

Then, in the top of the sixth, O'Keeffe led off the inning with his first of two home runs on the day to make it a 7-3 lead for RPI. An RBI single to left center by Brian Comerford brought Cristian Forgione in as the Saints fourth and final run of the game.

Nicholas Butler, O'Keeffe and DeGuardia each finished with multi-hit games for St. Lawrence

Jack Vaccari led RPI with a 2-for-3 game at the plate, with an RBI and a run scored. He also recorded the Engineers only extra-base hit in game one.

Game 2 – RPI 7, St. Lawrence 1

RPI built a 4-0 lead through five, with single-run innings in the second and third before tacking on two more runs with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

St. Lawrence got on the board in the top of the seventh with O'Keeffe's third home run of the season – a solo shot to right field – to cut the deficit to 4-1, but RPI answered with a run of its own in the bottom of the frame on an RBI triple to right center by Vaccari to regain a four-run lead.

The Engineers added two more in the bottom of the eighth to push to the final 7-1 margin and secure the sweep.

In 7.0 innings of work, Greenan allowed five runs on 10 hits, while Louis LaCivita allowed two runs on two hits with one strikeout in an inning of work in relief.

Cole Paquin led RPI with a 3-for-5 outing and three runs scored, while Vaccari finished with three RBI.

Christopher Palmiero threw a complete game in the win to remain unbeaten at 5-0 for the Engineers.

Records – St. Lawrence (5-20, 3-11 LL); Rensselaer (13-13, 9-5 LL)

Up Next – at Rensselaer on Saturday, April 20 at 12 p.m. in Troy, New York