A ninth inning rally fell just short as the University of Rochester baseball team dropped a 6-4 decision to Ithaca College on Tuesday evening at Towers Field.
The Yellowjackets (6-11), scored three runs in the ninth and had the tying runners on base, but Ithaca relief pitcher Jake Binder recorded a strikeout to end the UR comeback attempt in the final inning.
Ithaca (12-8), used a strong pitching performance from starter Robby Buffis to build its lead. Buffis held Rochester's offense in check for most of the night, allowing just four hits and one run through the opening eight innings before being tagged for two additional runs in the ninth.
After two and a half scoreless innings, Rochester was able to get on the board first following a Jake Hertz 2-out RBI single to left field, scoring Tyler Schmidt. Both Hertz and Schmidt were the only Yellowjackets on the night to record multi-hit games as Schmidt was 3-4 and Hertz finished 2-4, adding a stolen base.
The visiting Bombers answered UR's run quickly, scoring three runs in the top of the fourth to grab the lead. Trevor Thompson led off with a double and following an error, Ryan Henchey singles to center, tying the game. After a flyout, Domenic Boresta singled scoring Sam Little to put IC ahead and Jake Generali followed with a single to plate the third run.
After his teammates gave him the lead, Buffis settled in for Ithaca, allowing only one hit and two base runners over the next five innings.
Meanwhile, Ithaca added some key insurance runs in the eighth and ninth innings to reach a 6-1 lead. Sam Little tripled to tight in the eighth scoring his brother Webb Little and then Sam reached home on a UR wild pitch. The following inning, it was Webb who delivered the RBI hit, scoring Josh Savacool.
Rochester's ninth inning started with a Pete Carrier walk. After Carrier swiped second base, Grant Kilmer singled to right, chasing Buffis from the contest after 106 pitches. After Kilmer stole second base to get out of the force play, an Aiden Finch groundout scored Carrier for UR's second run of the game. Will Conroy followed with an RBI groundout of his own and UR was down 6-3 with two outs.
The 'Jackets then recorded three straight hits off of Binder to make things interesting, putting the tying runners on base. Jack Herman singled to left, Schmidt singled to right and pinch hitter David Rieth singled, scoring Herman to make it 6-4. The next batter though, freshman Kyle Trombley was sat down on strikes for the final out.
On the mound for Rochester was Luke Meyerson who picked up the loss, going four innings, allowing five hits, three runs (1 earned) with two walks. Jack Donlon pitched three innings of relief and allowed a single run while Tyler McConway and Kevin Ho also surrendered a run out of the bullpen.
UR returns to action this Friday and Saturday playing a Liberty League conference weekend at local rival RIT.