The University of Rochester baseball team rebounded from a sluggish Saturday sweep at the hands of Union College to win both games of a doubleheader against the Dutchmen on Sunday afternoon at Towers Field.
Rochester (12-12, 7-5 Liberty League) edged out Union 3-2 in game one and then won the second game, rallying for a 7-4 win. Union (14-6, 9-3 Liberty League) snapped a 10-game winning streak in the process while UR stopped a five game losing skid.
The Yellowjackets got two solid pitching performances from sophomore John Ghyzel in game one and the duo of Jack Denzer and Luke Meyerson in game two. Ghyzel threw a 7-inning complete game with 6 strikeouts, allowing just 7 hits and 2 unearned runs. Denzer went 5.2 in the nightcap, allowed 6 hits, 4 runs (1 earned) while walking 4 and striking out 1. Meyerson shut down the Dutchmen over the final 3.1 innings, giving up just one hit while striking out two.
UR, batting as the visitors on the second day of the league weekend, was able to strike first in the top of the 2nd inning of Union game one pitcher Nick Williams. Aiden Finch scored on a Dan Warren single to right, giving Rochester the 1-0 lead.
In the fourth, UR would boost the lead to 3-0. Finch led off with a double to left. That followed by a Steve Eychner bunt single and in the next at bat, Finch would scamper home on a wild pitch. Warren then singled to second, moving Eychner to third where he would score when Ryan Spurr provided a flyout to center.
Union was able to score two runs in the fifth, staying within reach. With two outs, Wiley Knight and Matt Ferdenzi singled to get two runners on. The next batter, Jake Vesling, reached on an error to load the bases. Jake Fishman then reached on an infield single which allowed two runs to score with the runners moving on the pitch. But Ghyzel worked out the jam, getting a flyout from Jamie Faber to end the threat.
Finch was 3-4 with a double and two runs to lead the UR offense while Warren and Eychner each added two hits. Fishman was 2-3 with two RBI for Union. On the hill, Williams took the loss for the Dutchmen going 5 innings, allowing 8 hits, 3 runs while striking out 6.
In game two, Rochester scored runs in the 2nd and 3rd to grab an early 2-0 lead. Jake Meyerson squeeze bunted in a run and Nolan Schultz provided an RBI single up the middle.
Union took the lead with three runs in the fourth thanks in part to a pair of Rochester errors. Eric Egan led off with a single to left. Kent Curran then bunted to move him to second, but Denzer's throw sailed high allowing both runners to be safe. The next hitter Joe Ganim then laid a bunt down the third base line for a single, loading the bases. Denzer induced a grounder to first to get the opening out at the plate. The next grounder to third was then bobbled and thrown away at home allowing two Union runs to score, leaving two runners on with only one out. Ferdenzi then singled to left scoring the go-ahead run.
Ganim added another run for Union in the 5th, plating Egan who led off with a double, on a sacrifice fly, giving the Dutchmen a 4-2 lead.
Rochester's rally came in the 8th, as the Yellowjackets scored five times and batted around the lineup. Eychner singled up the middle and scored on a Schultz liner to right to cut the lead to 4-3. Finch then double to left putting the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position. After an intentional walk and strikeout, Ryan Spurr doubled down the right field line to score two, giving Rochester the lead. Jake Meyerson was the next hitter and hit ripped a single to right, scoring two more to complete the big inning for Rochester.
In the nightcap, Eychner was 2-4 with a double and 2 runs scored while Spurr was 2-3 with a double and 2 RBI. Schultz also went 2-5 with 2 RBI and a stolen base.
Egan went 2-5 with a double and a run scored for Union while Anthony Amoroso was 2-4 with a run. Vesling started on the hill for the Dutchmen and went 7 innings, allowing 4 hits, 2 runs and 2 walks while striking out 8. Ryan Kuchar picked up the loss, surrendering 6 hits and 5 runs with 4 strikeouts in two innings out of the bullpen.
Rochester returns to action on Tuesday with an away game at Medaille College, with first pitch scheduled for 4 pm.