ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, NY – Two University of Rochester pitchers baffled Bard College hitters on Sunday afternoon, leading to a doubleheader sweep and four-game weekend sweep on Sunday afternoon at Bard's Honey Field.
Rochester took game one by a 3-0 score behind the first career shutout from senior Luke Meyerson. In game two, junior Jack Denzer tossed eight scoreless innings en route to a 5-2 Yellowjacket victory.
The four-game win streak pushes UR's record overall to .500, sitting at 11-11. In the Liberty League, Rochester is 11-3 and is now in first place in the league standings, ahead of second place Union who is 12-4. Bard moves to 12-17 overall and 5-10 in the Liberty League with the losses.
GAME 1:
Meyerson (4-1) had a career game in the opener, throwing seven innings and scattering six hits and two walks, while striking out a career high nine batters. He was terrific for the second straight start, after throwing five scoreless innings in a Wednesday victory over Vassar.
Rochester ended up getting just enough offense in game one, only recording four hits, but ended up scoring three runs.
Jack Herman got the scoring started in the bottom of the first, driving in Steve Pickering with an RBI groundout.
In Bard's half of the third inning, Meyerson got in a jam, allowing two singles and a walk to load the bases with one out, but the senior recorded a strikeout and induced a groundout to end the frame.
UR doubled the lead in the fifth, thanks to the speed of sophomore Kyle Trombley. After reaching on an infield single, Trombley stole second and then swiped third. While stealing third, Bard's catcher airmailed the throw and allowed Trombley to gallop home.
Herman then picked up his second RBI of the game in the sixth, driving in David Rieth with a sacrifice fly.
GAME 2:
Denzer was equally as impressive in game two for the Yellowjackets, posting his best start of the season. The junior went a career-high eight innings while allowing nine hits and two walks, striking out four, evening his season record at 2-2.
The Yellowjackets opened the scoring in the third inning when Pickering singled to drive in Trombley who had swiped another stolen base to get into scoring position.
UR's advantage doubled in the fourth after Tyler Schmidt led off with a triple to center and was driven in by Aaron Craig's sacrifice fly.
In the fifth, Bard loaded the bases with a walk and two singles, but Denzer kept the Raptors off the scoreboard by getting a fielders choice groundout to neutralize the threat.
Rochester tacked on three insurance runs in the sixth. Craig picked up another RBI, his eighth of the weekend, with a double to right, scoring Rieth. Trombley then picked up an RBI with a grounder to short, and Aiden Finch added a single to center for the 5-0 Yellowjacket lead.
Bard would then strand two runners on in the seventh and eighth innings, and for the game finished with 12 runners left on base.
The Raptors finally broke the scoring drought in the night, plating two runs off of reliever Hank Powers in the top of the ninth. Two strikeouts sandwiched a walk to start the inning and it looked like UR was going to post the shutout. But back to back singles and a wild pitch allowed Bard to score twice and bring the tying run to the plate. Rochester's Tyler McConway then came in and recorded the final out of the contest to pick up the save.
Rochester will next play a home and home series with Ithaca on Wednesday and Thursday this coming week. UR hosts the Bombers Wednesday at 5:30, before traveling to Ithaca on Thursday for a 4 pm game.