TROY, NY – The University of Rochester and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute opened up Liberty League baseball play with a split doubleheader at RPI's Robison Field on Saturday afternoon.

Rochester (6-5, 1-1 Liberty League) got a stellar game one pitching performance from senior Evan Janifer in a 5-0 win while the Engineers (2-13, 1-1 Liberty League) held off a UR rally in the ninth for a 7-5 victory in the nightcap.

In the opener, Janifer was terrific, tossing a 7-inning complete game shutout, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out seven batters.  He improves to 2-1 on the year and has yet to allow an earned run in 16.2 innings this season.  His seven K's from Saturday ties a career-high set last year against Skidmore.

Game one was scoreless heading into the 7th inning when the Yellowjackets erupted for five runs on five hits.  After a leadoff walk, sac bunt and infield single, Rochester had 1st and 3rd with one out.  After a steal, UR senior Steve Eychner singled to left to plate the first run, breaking the scoreless tie.

That run chased RPI starting pitcher Stephen Schiavone.  The next batter, UR freshman Grant Kilmer provided an RBI single to make it 2-0 before senior Dan Warren doubled in Eychner for a 3-0 lead.  After a strikeout to get to two outs, junior Pete Carrier swatted a double down the right field line to score two more giving the Yellowjackets a 5-0 lead.

In game one, Carrier went 2-4 with two RBI and two stolen bases while Eychner had a 2-3 game at the plate with a double and a run scored.  RPI starter Schiavone tossed 6.1 innings, allowed five hits, three runs and struck out seven batters.

The second game started off in a similar fashion, with neither team cracking the scoreboard through five innings.  The host Engineers then pushed one across in the sixth when Yahriel Jimenez singled through the left side, scoring Ethann Meister.

RPI then made it 3-0 through seven after a Weston Hawkins sacrifice fly and a Jeff Sitarski pinch hit single.

Rochester's Jake Meyerson drove in two with a single up the middle in the top of the 8th to make it 3-2, but Rensselaer would answer right back, getting four runs in the bottom of the inning to pull ahead 7-2.  Hawkins drove in two on a single and Sam Lawrence doubled, driving in RPI's other two runs.

The Yellowjackets made things interesting in the 9th, scoring three runs, but left runners at the corners when the last out was made.

Game two saw Carrier again go 2-4 with a run while Meyerson was 2-5 with 2 RBI.  Matt Todd drove in two runs and Eychner posted a 2-4 game with a double.  On the mound, Dan Warren took the loss, giving up three runs (2 earned) and nine hits in 6.2 innings while fanning six.

RPI's Greg Echeverria just missed a complete game, throwing 8.2 innings, allowed 7 hits, 5 runs (4 earned) and 3 walks while striking out 5.  Adam Aponte came in for the final out and picked up the save for the Engineers.

The same two teams play in another doubleheader on Sunday starting at 12 pm.