LOUDONVILLE, NY- Senior infielder Nate Mulberg had a big day at the plate and sophomore pitcher Dan Warren was stellar on the mound as the University of Rochester baseball team topped Clarkson University 5-2 in Liberty League Baseball Tournament action on Thursday at Siena Field.
Mulberg led Rochester (24-14) by going 3-3 at the plate with 3 RBI and a run scored. Warren tossed eight innings, allowed just two hits, one run (unearned) while walking three and striking out four in earning his fourth win of the season, lowering his ERA to 1.05 this year.
Clarkson rallied in the ninth, getting the tying run on base courtesy of two walks and two hit batters, but sophomore closer Evan Janifer shut the door by getting David Wixted to fly out to left for his eighth save of the season. The win is UR's first in the Liberty League Tournament since the 2010 season and is the third straight victory over Clarkson (19-12).
Rochester was able to get on the board first, getting two runs on a Mulberg single up the middle. The base hit scored Tyler DeClerck who reached via hit by pitch and Brendan Garry who got on due to a fielders choice error on Clarkson.
An error by Rochester allowed Clarkson to put a run up in the fifth, when Matt Jenack scampered home on a grounder by Anthony Padrazo that was thrown away.
UR junior Josh Ludwig responded in the bottom half of the inning, getting a two-out two RBI single with the bases loaded to boost the UR lead to 4-1. In the sixth, Mulberg again delivered a two-out RBI hit, scoring DeClerck who doubled to lead off the inning. Ludwig finished 1-3 with two RBI a walk and stolen base while DeClerck was 1-3 with a double, two runs and hit by pitch.
Clarkson's Greg Jasek (5-3) took the loss in a complete game (8 IP), allowing seven hits, five runs (4 earned) and two walks while striking out eight UR hitters. Jenack and John Coleman had the lone hits for the Golden Knights.
The Golden Knights now play in an elimination game on Friday morning while UR stays in the winners bracket and gets the winner of top seeded Union versus Vassar at 1:30 on Friday.