SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The University of Rochester baseball team completed the season sweep of Union College with a pair of Liberty League victories at Central Park Sunday afternoon. The Yellowjackets pounded out 23 hits in the 7-5 and 13-0 victories, both attained in seven innings.
Union (2-7, 0-5 Liberty) was led by
Andy Brown (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.), who kicked off game one with a home run and finished the day 3-for-7 at the plate.
Rochester (16-3, 10-0 Liberty) saw six players record multiple hits, led by Jay Jay Vanderstyne, who went 5-for-8 with a pair of doubles and five RBI, all coming in game two.
Blair Veenema (3-0) gave up two runs on seven hits while striking out six to earn the win in game one, while Peter McEneaney (3-0) struck out six and gave up three hits in six innings of scoreless work to win the nightcap.
In game one, Brown led off with a one-run homer, then plated
Dane Flavin (Schenectady, N.Y.) in the bottom of the second to hold a two-run lead after two.
The Yellowjackets rallied for three runs with two outs the top of the third on an error and three hits to take a 3-2 lead. Rochester added a run in the fifth on four hits, but stranded two when Dave Kloc grounded into a double play to end the inning with the bases loaded.
The Yellowjackets extended their lead in the top of the seventh when Nick Cacciola hit a two-run double after Vanderstyne had scored on a passed ball.
Union mounted a comeback in the bottom of the frame, and twice had the winning run at the plate, but Rochester closer
John Fishback stranded three runners to end the threat.
Brian McLaughlin (Norwood, N.J.) and
Ryan Bowes (Hamilton, N.J.) walked before advancing on a single to left by Brown and scoring on a
Zach Tillo (Lancaster, Mass.) single up the middle. Down 7-4 with one out,
Pat Wilson (Cos Cob, Conn.) reached on an error before he and Tillo advanced on a wild pitch.
Colin McKelligan (Canton, Mass.) struck out swinging and
Shawn Johnston (Hamilton, N.J.) loaded the bases with a walk before Flavin was caught just short at first after a short infield hit.
Matt Rogers (Topsfield, Mass.) gave up four runs (one earned) on 10 hits while striking out one; he is now 1-1 on the season.
In game two, the Yellowjackets scored early and held onto the lead, crossing the plate twice in the first inning, three times in the second and breaking open the game with a six-run third frame. Rochester also added two runs in the seventh.
Dan Brien plated Ed Kahovec with a home run to center to take the early 2-0 lead. Four hits and a sacrifice bunt led to three runs in the second inning before a six-run, two-out rally put the game firmly in hand for Rochester in the next frame. After striking out three in the first two innings, Union starter
Roy Eriksen (South Nyack, N.Y.) walked four before giving way to McKelligan, who gave up a three-run double to Vanderstyne. A series of wild pitches and passed balls led to Vanderstyne crossing the plate before McKelligan struck out
Steve Just to end the inning.
McEneaney held Union to one hit over the first four innings before
Brendan Moran (Damariscotta, Maine) connected for a single in the fifth.
Omar Shakir (Indialantic, Fla.) singled to left in the sixth and
Brian Goldman (Pittsford, N.Y.) connected for a double in the seventh.
Union is back in action in a 2 p.m. Liberty League doubleheader against St. Lawrence Wednesday, April 9, at Plattsburgh State. Rochester plays a single game at RIT on Wednesday at 2 p.m.
