TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Fightin' Engineers had a successful Senior Day outing as they took down the Mt. St. Joseph Lions in a thrilling 9-8 victory.
 
Jordan Harley opened the game with a triple for Mt. St. Joseph, and he would score the first run of the game on a groundout.
 
Jackson Summers singled on the first pitch he faced to center field in the bottom of the first, and he advanced to second on a wild pitch. Issei Takahashi would then hit a grounder through the left side, which put runners on the corners for RHIT. Connor O'Connell would lead off his Senior Day with an RBI single on a line drive to right field, where Summers' run tied the game. With the bases loaded, Takahashi put Rose-Hulman ahead 2-1 as he scored on an error on a dropped pickoff attempt.
 
The Lions would take back the lead in the top of the second, as they scored on a double to right center, before following that up with a sacrifice fly to right field.
 
Sam Erickson would be walked on four pitches in the bottom of the second, and Takahashi hit another single, which went out to left field. With two outs, TJ Pipkins launched his third home run of the season over the right field wall, where his three RBI homer put Rose-Hulman ahead 5-3.
 
Camden Judson forced three quick outs in the third inning, and Rose-Hulman's defense would turn a double play in the top of the fourth. Noah Rasmussen closed out the top half of the inning with an impressive backhanded catch on a shallow line drive to shortstop.
 
O'Connell's Senior Day success would continue in the fourth, as he hit a solo home run deep over the right field wall. During Rose-Hulman's very next at bat, senior Mason Rasmussen hit his third home run of the season, where his shot over the left field wall extended the lead to 7-3.
 
O'Connell recorded his third hit of the day in the bottom of the sixth, as he singled through the right side. The Fightin' Engineers would later put two runners on as M. Rasmussen reached on a fielder's choice while Austin Leonard was walked. With two outs, N. Rasmussen hit an RBI grounder up the middle, where M. Rasmussen was able to score on the play.
 
Mt. St. Joseph would draw a pair of walks in the seventh, and they were able to cut the lead to 8-4 after scoring on a groundout to shortstop.
 
Summers was hit by a pitch to begin the bottom half of the seventh, before Takahashi recorded his third hit of the day with a single to left field once again. A successful sacrifice bunt from Pipkins advanced both runners into scoring position, and an O'Connell sacrifice fly to the center field wall brought Summers home to make it a 9-4 game.
 
The Lions were able to rally back in the eighth inning as they loaded the bases following a walk and a pair of singles. Faced with a 2-2 count, Sean Moore hit a stand-up double to left center field, recording three RBIs to cut the lead to two. Harley would add an RBI double to left field in the next at bat, which made it a one-score game at 9-8.
 
Mt. St. Joseph would lead off the ninth with a single up the middle from Brennan Martin. With no outs, Ethan Mason hit a double through the left side where his grounder was fielded by Takahashi. With Martin rounding third, Takahashi made a perfect throw to home, where M. Rasmussen tagged Martin for the out as he slid into home plate. With a runner on third and two outs, Tyler Orr concluded his Senior Day by striking out the final batter on a full count, as the Fightin' Engineers achieved a 9-8 victory.
 
Rose-Hulman will head to Carlinville, Ill., as they face the Blackburn Beavers on Tuesday, April 14, at 3 PM.