POUGHKEEPSIE, NY - The bats could only muster 10 hits in two games, but the University of Rochester managed to split a league doubleheader at Vassar College on Sunday afternoon at Prentiss Field.
The Yellowjackets won a pitchers duel in game one, 1-0 in eight innings, but saw their school record 17-game winning streak come to an end with a 5-2 defeat in game two. Rochester is now 22-8 overall on the year and 14-2 in the Liberty League while Vassar is 5-15 overall and 4-14 in the league.
Senior Josh Schulman (5-2) tossed a complete game in the opener, recording his team leading third shutout of the season. He went the full 8 innings, allowed 5 hits, 3 walks while striking out 7 batters. He lowered his ERA on the season to 2.23, a UR team best.
His counterpart on the mound, Adam Erkis, was equally as good, throwing 7.2 innings while allowing 5 hits and 1 unearned run while striking out 5 and walking 2.
Rochester got out of a big jam in the fifth inning, as Schulman induced a 3-2 double play with the bases loaded and no-outs. After the two out play, the senior sat down the next batter looking to keep the game scoreless.
The only run of the game came in the bottom of the 8th inning of the scheduled 7-inning contest. After two quick outs, Brian Munoz singled to left field to start the rally. After Brendan Garry reached on a Vassar error, Nolan Schultz was intentionally walked to load the bases and set up the force play. Senior Josh Ludwig then stepped up and lined a single up the middle to score the walk off victory.
In game two, the Brewers were able to jump out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning off UR starter John Ghyzel. After a single and hit batter, Nick Johnson doubled to right, scoring both runners. The next hitter, Dakota Sagnelli, singled to left to score Johnson and put Vassar up in the first.
The lead would go up to 5-0 in the fourth inning after Dan McCormack provided a sac fly and Jason Garfinkel drove in another run with a single to center.
Rochester would get on the board in the fifth, scoring two runs on a Brewer throwing error.
Vassar's Derek DeMild picked up the win, going 4 innings, allowing 3 hits, 2 runs (0 earned) and 5 walks while striking out 2. Robert Winkelmann recorded his first save of the year by allowing just two hits while striking out two in three innings of relief.
Ghyzel was saddled with the loss going 4 innings, allowing 6 hits, 5 runs and 1 walk with 3 strikeouts. Freshman Luke Meyerson tossed three perfect innings of relief for the Yellowjackets.
Rochester returns to the diamond, looking to begin a new winning streak on Thursday with a home contest against D'Youville starting at 7 pm.