ROCHESTER, NY – The University of Rochester and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute split a Sunday Liberty League doubleheader, with the host Yellowjackets taking game one 4-0, before RPI stole a walk-off win in game two by a 6-5 score.
Rochester moves to 10-18 on the season and is 7-11 in Liberty League play while RPI is now 17-19 overall and 9-9 in the conference.
Game one saw UR's Jack Denzer dazzle on the mound, throwing a complete game, 4-hit shutout with seven strikeouts and no walks. He needed just 77 pitches to complete the win, his second of the year.
In game two, RPI's Ethann Meister cracked a solo home run to left center to break a 5-5 tie in the bottom of the ninth inning, sending RPI home with a win in the final game of the four game set.
GAME ONE:
UR's Denzer ended up getting all the run support he needed in the opening inning as slew of Engineer miscues led to two Yellowjacket runs. Leadoff hitter Jake Hertz reached on a throwing error, then stole second and advanced to third on a wild throw down on the steal. He then scampered home on a wild pitch.
A walk, fielders choice, hit batter and strikeout had two on with two out for Rochester when David Rieth singled to right field. The RPI right fielder would throw a strike to the plate, beating the runner, but the Engineer catcher couldn't handle the throw and UR was up 2-0 after an inning.
In the third, the Yellowjackets added a single run coming on a Rieth groundout to third, scoring Tyler Schmidt.
Rochester made it 4-0 in the top of the fifth inning with Rieth reaching on a fielders choice with Carrier running home before Aiden Finch was tagged out in a run down.
Rieth finished the game 1-3 with two RBI, Schmidt was 1-4 with a double and two runs scored while Carrier drew three walks and added a stolen base.
RPI's Brendan McNerney took the loss, tossing a complete game as well, going seven innings while allowing just three hits, four runs (3 earned) and five walks while striking out six.
GAME TWO:
The nightcap was a back and forth affair, with Meister playing the hero, clearing the left centerfield fence breaking the 5-5 tie in the bottom of the ninth.
In fact, the Engineers tallied single runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings to rally from two runs down, salvaging a Sunday split for the lone win of the weekend.
Five RPI hitters had multi-hit games in game two, led by Meister who went 2-4 with two RBI, a double and the game-winning home run. Jason Ramos had a double in his 2-4 game while Weston Hawkins, Jeff Sitarski and J.T. Sawyer each going 2-4 with a run scored.
For Rochester, Jack Herman went 2-3 at the plate, while Finch went 1-4, clubbing a two-run home run. Rieth recorded a triple and run scored while Will Conroy was 1-4 with three stolen bases.
The Yellowjackets struck first in the top of the second inning, with Rieth scoring on a wild pitch. Kyle Trombley then singled to left field, scoring Conroy who stole second and third base in the inning.
RPI answered though, tying the game in the bottom of the inning with two runs. Ramos led off with a double and that was followed by a Hawkins bunt single. Christian Spagnuola then bunted home a run and after a strikeout, Sawyer singled up the middle for the second RPI run.
Rochester pulled back ahead in the fifth when Finch lifted his second home run of the season over the left field fence, making it 4-2 UR.
Meister trimmed the lead in half in the bottom of the frame, doubling in Sitarski with two outs.
UR regained its two run lead in the sixth after Mark Davis recorded an RBI groundout to second base.
In the seventh, RPI got back within one run when substitute catcher Sean Welling delivered an RBI triple down the left field line, just passed the dive of Hertz in left field.
RPI used a Yellowjacket fielding error and two hits to plate the tying run. After a line out to open the inning, Ramos singled to left. Pinch-runner D.J. Morone then moved to second the UR miscue. The runners stole second and third while UR was striking a batter putting the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position. Sitarski then grounded a ball to the back corner at third base and beat out the throw across the diamond, allowing the tying run to score.
In the ninth, Rensselaer brought in closer Adam Aponte to keep the game even, which he did, getting a 1-2-3 top half of the inning, setting up Meister's game-winning solo shot in the bottom of the ninth.
On the mound for Rochester, Luke Meyerson tossed into the seventh inning, going 6.1 innings while allowing seven hits, four runs, two walks while fanning seven. Tyler Pauly pitched the last of the seventh inning and Tyler McConway took the loss for UR.
For RPI, Patrick McMackin got the start and went five innings, allowed seven hits, five runs (4 earned) while walking and striking out three. Jack Krasovec tossed three scoreless innings of relief and allowed just one hit while Aponte earned the win with his one scoreless inning.
UR closes out its season next weekend, hosting Skidmore in a four-game set while RPI has a four-game home-and-home series with Union to end the year.