LEESBURG, FLA. -- The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology baseball team opened the 2008 season with a 7-4 victory over St. John Fisher College on Sunday afternoon in the first game of the team's trip to Florida.

Sophomore catcher Keenan Long (Park Ridge, Ill./Northwestern University) led the Engineer offense with three hits, including a double, and added two RBIs with two runs scored.

Other Rose-Hulman players contributing to the 12-hit attack included sophomore Tim Tepe (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) with a double, one run scored and two RBIs; senior Gabe Focke (St. Leon/East Central) with a single and two walks; and the duo of sophomore Chandler Kent (Antioch, Ill.) and freshman Reed Eason (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway North) with two hits each.

On the mound, sophomore Derek Eitel (Marshall, Ill.) pitched seven strong innings and allowed just one run with nine strikeouts.  Senior Sam Deters (Teutopolis, Ill.) struck out the side in the ninth inning to secure the win.

Rose-Hulman stands 1-0 on the season and returns to action against St. Vincent College in a doubleheader on Monday.

Rose-Hulman     000  003  202  -  7   12   1
St. John Fisher   000  100  021  -  4    8    0
Eitel, Valerioti (8), Deters (9) and Long.  King, Rodman, Vernert, Holiday, Crane and Smith.  W - Eitel (1-0); L - King (0-1); S - Deters (1).