GAME 1
GAME 2
ROCHESTER, NY- The University of Rochester baseball team split a Liberty League twin bill with Union College on Saturday afternoon. The Yellowjackets took game one 10-3 with the Dutchmen taking game two by a 7-1 score.
On the year, Union sits at 16-17 overall (10-12 Liberty League) while Rochester is at 11-19 overall (7-12 LL).
In game one, UR used some timely hitting to go along with some help from Union to explode for five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, breaking open a close 5-3 ballgame.
The Yellowjackets got off to a good start, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning behind a Sam Slutsky double and a Josh Ludwig single up the middle.
Ludwig singled up the middle again in the third inning, this time scoring Rob Barnard who reached on an error, making the score 3-0. Rochester senior Alex Caghan then hit his third home run of the year in the next inning, stretching the lead to 5-0 after four innings.
In the top of the sixth, Union loaded the bases behind two singles and a hit batter. Sam Caruso then walked, forcing in a run. The next batter, James Mulpeter then singled up the middle scoring two more runs and chasing UR starter Jon Menke.
The Yellowjackets were able to answer right back in the bottom of the sixth, scoring five runs to earn some breathing room heading into the final inning. Barnard started the inning getting hit by a pitch. Slutsky then walked. Pinch hitter Nate Mulberg sacrificed the runners up, but reached when the Union pitcher booted the bunt attempt. With the bases loaded, two straight walks and a sac fly scored three runs for Rochester. Then after a strikeout, Ethan Sander singled to right field scoring the last two UR runs.
Menke went 5.1 innings while giving up three runs (all earned) on four hits and striking out six. He earned the victory, improving his record to 4-2 on the year. Dane O'Neil started for the Dutchmen. He ended up taking the loss (2-3) after giving up five runs (four earned) on six hits in four innings. He walked two and struck out two.
Ludwig went 2-3 with three RBI and Slutsky was 3-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Union's Mulpeter was 2-3 with two RBI.
In game two, the Dutchmen pitchers only yielded three hits to Rochester batters while the offense scored five unearned runs off two UR errors to build a 7-0 lead after seven innings. UR left 12 runners on base in game two.
The game started out quick for the Dutchmen. Leadoff hitter Vincent Esposito singled and stole second. He was then sacrificed to third and was brought in on a Tyler Heck single.
In the fourth, Union got two more runs when Heck doubled and scored on a fielding error. David Peretti, who reached on the error then trotted home after a stolen base, sac bunt and then a wild pitch.
A leadoff triple by Anders Goetz allowed for him to score on a Peretti ground out in the top of the sixth.
The seventh inning started with Union batters reaching on a walk then a hit by pitch. After being bunted over into scoring position, UR decided to intentionally load the bases. The next batter reached on an error, scoring one run. After a strikeout, Peretti then singled up the middle scoring two more unearned runs for the Dutchmen. Goetz was then caught stealing to end the inning.
Rochester was able to push one run across in the eighth after Nick Carlson reached via double and then scored on Brendan Garry's fielder's choice. Rochester left two runners on that inning and had 12 total in the game.
Union starter Phil Kemp held Rochester to just one hit over 6.2 innings, but he issued six walks and hit two batters. He did earn the win though, moving his record to 5-4 on the year. Rochester's starter was Jeremy Diller who went six innings and allowed five runs (two earned) on four hits, two walks and two strikeouts. He took the loss, dropping to 2-5 on the season.
The same two teams play tomorrow looking to move up the Liberty League standings with a doubleheader starting at noon.
