SCHENECTADY, NY - The University of Rochester closed out the regular season with a doubleheader split at Union College, winning game one 3-2 before falling 12-9 in the second game.
The Yellowjackets (26-14, 17-7 Liberty League) finish the regular season 3rd in the conference standings while the Dutchmen (21-15, 13-11 Liberty League) finish just outside of the conference playoff picture in 5th place.
In the opener, junior Dan Warren was fantastic through the first six innings, allowing just one hit and one walk in keeping the Dutchmen at bay. The 7th inning saw Union get the first two runners on, a third reached via walk, chasing Warren from the game. Senior Rob Mabee came in and gave up a 2-run single, but then got the final two outs to seal the victory for Rochester. Warren (6-2) finished going 6.1, allowed 3 hits, 2 runs and 2 walks with 3 strikeouts. Mabee picked up his 2nd save of the season when Eychner made a leaping grab to steal a game-tying hit from Union's Andres Goetz.
The Yellowjackets got all their offense in the second inning. Josh Ludwig led off reaching on a fielding error. After getting bunted to second and stealing third, Ludwig was driven in by an Eychner single. After moving up on a wild pitch and then stealing third, the junior scampered home on an Owen Gabbey groundout. Jake Meyerson then clubbed his third solo home run in as many games to polish off the 3-run frame.
All three UR runs were unearned, as starter Adam Ashenfarb allowed 7 hits, 3 runs and 2 walks while striking out 9 UR batters.
In game two, Union jumped out two a 3-0 lead after two times batting as the visitors. Rochester then put up a five-spot in the bottom of the 2nd, an inning highlighted by a Brendan Garry grand slam. Garry's home run is the senior's 9th of the season, tying him for 3rd most in a single season at Rochester.
The Dutchmen would then get one run in the 5th and four more in the 6th to build a 9-5 lead. In the 6th, Union nearly hit for the cycle, getting an RBI single, double and triple from Jake Vesling, Jake Fishman and Kent Curran off of UR's David Strandberg who was saddled with the loss in game two. Union would then complete its cycle two innings later as Chris Carbone would hit a two run homer to left, increasing the Dutchmen lead to 11-5.
Rochester tried to battle back, plating four runs in the bottom of the 8th, trimming the lead to 11-9. UR's runs came with two outs from Brian Munoz and Josh Ludwig RBI doubles and Lance Hamilton and Warren RBI singles.
Union added an insurance run in the 9th and then Bill Christopher locked down his 6th save of the season for the Dutchmen pitching around a two out Meyerson double, sealing the win.
In game two, Ludwig led Rochester at the plate, going 4-5 with two doubles a run and RBI. Garry was 2-4 with a home run, 2 runs and 4 RBI while Munoz was 2-4 with 2 runs, 2 walks and an RBI. Sam Steele and Meyerson each added multi-hit efforts in the nightcap.
Rochester's starter was senior Josh Schulman who went 5 innings, allowed 7 hits, 4 runs (3 earned) and 1 walk while striking out 3.
The Yellowjackets will now shift focus to next weeks Liberty League tournament where UR will enter as the #3 seed and face off with Clarkson University in Thursday's opener. The tournament will be hosted by regular season champion RPI and will be a double-elimination format. The fourth team making the playoffs will be RIT who is making its first postseason appearance as a member of the Liberty League.