AMSTERDAM, NY – Clarkson University used a big 8-run sixth inning to get past the University of Rochester baseball team 9-4 in the opening game of the 2016 Liberty League baseball tournament at Shuttleworth Park.
Clarkson sent 12 men to the plate, scoring eight runs in the bottom of the sixth to grab a 9-3 lead and eventually earn the five run victory. The first seven batters reached base safely in the frame, chasing Rochester starter John Ghyzel from the mound after the sophomore pitched well through the opening five innings.
The loss drops Rochester to 22-18 on the season and into the losers bracket of the double-elimination tournament and will play the loser of the Union-RPI game at 10 am on Friday in an elimination game. Clarkson (20-16) will play the winner of the second game from Thursday on Friday afternoon for the right to reach the championship round.
CU would open the scoring the third inning, plating an unearned run on an Anthony Padrazo double to right center, bringing home Paddy Delfino who had reached base on a UR fielding error.
Rochester would respond in the top of the fourth, scoring a run when Dan Warren singled through the right side to bring in freshman Aiden Finch.
In the fifth inning, the Yellowjackets would take the lead, scraping two runs across with the help of four hits and a sacrifice fly. Grant Kilmer lined a one-out double to left and moved to third on a single by Matt Todd. Steve Eychner then brought in Kilmer with a sac fly. Aiden Finch singled to put runners on first and second, and that followed by Nolan Schultz grounding a ball up the middle, scoring Todd for the 3-1 lead.
Seven of Clarkson's 10 overall hits would come in the 8-run sixth inning. Dom Pirro, Connor Martin, Padrazo and Greg Jasek each provided an RBI single, Ben Knauf drove in two runs with a base hit while Delfino and Chris Miller added RBI groundouts.
Jake Meyerson would double in Schultz with two-outs in the eighth inning to complete the scoring for Rochester.
Rochester's Ghyzel would finish with five plus innings pitched, allowing 8 hits, 8 runs (6 earned), and 2 walks while striking out 5. The loss is his first on the year and also is the first time UR has dropped a game in which the sophomore has appeared. Sophomore Luke Meyerson relieved Ghyzel on the mound and tossed two innings and gave up an unearned run with two strikeouts. Freshman Tyler McConway then finished the game with a scoreless eighth.
Offensively, Schultz, Warren and Jake Meyerson had two hits and an RBI for the Yellowjackets while Finch also chipped in two hits. The Golden Knights' Jasek finished 3-4 with a double, RBI and run scored. Padrazo was 2-5 with a double, two RBI and a run while Knauf ended with two RBI.
On the hill for Clarkson, Ryan Riley picked up the win in relief of starter Ian Castle. Riley tossed 2.2 innings out of the bullpen allowing one run and two hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Castle went the opening five frames, scattered nine hits and allowed three runs with three strikeouts. Andrew Smith and Will Coleman finished out the game on the hill for the Golden Knights.
Last weekend, the Clarkson and Rochester teams split a 4-game conference series with CU earning the conference #2 seed by virtue of that split with the Yellowjackets who earned the tournament's #3 seed. Union swept Vassar last weekend to earn the right to host the conference tournament and RPI sneaked into the playoffs by one game with a split against St. Lawrence.