The University of Rochester baseball team put itself in great position for a run at a spot in the Liberty League playoffs with a doubleheader sweep of Vassar College on Saturday.
 
Rochester (18-13, 13-7 Liberty League), took game one by a 4-2 score and then topped the Brewers (10-9, 5-5 Liberty League) in the night cap by a score of 7-4.
 
Sophomore closer Evan Janifer picked up saves in both ends of the doubleheader on Saturday, giving him seven on the season, setting a new University of Rochester single season record.  Through 15 appearances, Janifer has a miniscule 0.59 ERA this season.
 
Rochester got things going in game one's first inning when with two outs, Nolan Schultz, Lance Hamilton and Josh Ludwig all slapped singles to get UR, who batted as the away team, on the board first.  The 'Jackets would add to their lead in the top of the second when Ethan Sander and Schultz provide RBI singles to boost the lead to 3-0.  Schultz would finish game one 3-4 with a run and RBI.
 
In the bottom of the 2nd, the Brewers would capitalize on a UR fielding error, scoring their only runs of the game.  Kyle Casey's grounder was mishandled at short allowing Denis Shanagher to score which was followed up with a Brett Zaziski RBI single to cut the deficit to 3-2.
 
In the fourth, Ludwig provided his second RBI of the day for UR on an infield single, scoring Brandon Heinrich for the 4-2 lead.  Ludwig was 2-4 with two RBI while Heinrich was 2-3 with two runs scored and two stolen bases.
 
It was a game of missed chances for the Brewers, especially early on.  Vassar left a total of nine runners on base, seven coming in the first three innings of game one.
 
Michael Mondon picked up the win for Rochester, tossing five innings, allowing four hits and two unearned runs while walking five and striking out four.  Vassar's Joe Lovizio was the hard luck loser, going the distance, giving up 12 hits, four runs, one walk while striking out one.
 
In game two, Rochester again scored first, this time in the second inning off a wayward throw from pitcher Jonathan Hong trying to get Ludwig out at first.  The throw got away from Zaziski at first and allowed Lance Hamilton who had doubled to score.  The Brewers would respond getting a run on a Parker Werline sac fly in the bottom of the inning.
 
In the fourth, senior Nate Mulberg drove in a key 2-out run after Vasser booted a grounder on the previous batter giving Rochester a 2-1 edge.  They would make it 4-1 in the fifth when Ludwig ripped a two out double to left center.  The junior finished game two 2-3 with two RBI, two walks, a run and a stolen base.
 
Vassar would battle back though, tying the score in the bottom of the sixth.  Jason Garfinkel and Cory Wuenschell led off with back to back doubles and that was followed by a Casey single, chasing UR starter Rob Mabee from the game.  Werline then grounded into a double play, scoring another run and then the Brewers executed a double steal later in the inning to tie the game at 4-4.  Garfinkel and Casey had solid performances in game two, each providing three hits.
 
The Yellowjackets would get those three runs right back in the seventh, with Mulberg providing an RBI single to left which plated Ludwig.  The next batter Heinrich then doubled down the right field line, scoring two more for some much needed insurance.  Mulberg, along with Ludwig and Tyler DeClerck all ended with two hits in game two.
 
Neither starting pitcher factored in the decision, as Mabee went five plus innings, allowed nine hits and three runs with one walk and three strikeouts.  Hong tossed five and allowed eight hits, four unearned runs while striking out four batters.
 
David Strandberg picked up the win in relief for Rochester while Dave Robbins ended with the loss for the Brewers.
 
Coming up, Rochester has midweek games at home against Brockport (4/22) and D'Youville (4/24) this week before closing out the Liberty League season at Skidmore next Saturday and Sunday.  Vassar plays a makeup doubleheader in conference against St. Lawrence on Tuesday.