PRINCE ATHLETIC COMPLEX – The University of Rochester picked up its second win over a ranked opponent this season, defeating 16th-ranked Oswego State 8-4 on Tuesday night at Towers Field.
Rochester's win pushes the Yellowjackets to 16-4 on the season, stretching its winning streak to six games. Oswego falls to 13-4 on the year, snapping a four-game winning streak.
The Yellowjacket offense was powered by senior Jacob Matzat who launched a key 3-run home run in the bottom of the first inning, with Matzat ending the day as the lone Yellowjacket with multiple hits, going 3-for-5 with a double, home run, two runs and three RBI.
Graduate student Matt Cappelletti provided two RBI's with a big, two-out single in the second, building Rochester's lead to 6-1.
Other offense from the Yellowjackets came from RBI doubles by Brian McKinsey and Jackson Reed, with Rochester's final run coming home thanks to an Oswego throwing error.
The Lakers runs all came on home runs, a solo shot in the first by Ryan Enos and a 3-run blast by Kyle Lauria in the third. Enos entered the game hitting .559, leading Division III in batting average.
On the mound, Rochester got a strong pitching effort all around, with the Lakers being limited to just five hits on the night. Jason Cobert (2-0) started and earned the win, tossing a scheduled three innings while striking out four. He surrendered all of the Oswego runs on just three hits.
A quartet of relievers finished off the victory, allowing just two hits and no runs the rest of the way. Jake Larson was first in relief and tossed two frames with two strikeouts. Mark Aaronson went two while Spencer Rojahn threw a scoreless eighth. Thomas Karpishin finished off the win with a scoreless ninth inning.
Oswego's Tony Poveda (1-1) took the loss, giving up six runs in 1.2 innings. He battled some control issues on the night, walking two and hitting four batters while giving up three hits. In relief for the Lakers, Connor VanDreason went 3.1 innings and gave up two runs, while Thomas Pecchia finished the contest with three scoreless frames.
Enos got the scoring started in the top of the first, golfing a low and outside pitch over the left field fence for the early 1-0 Laker lead.
The lead wouldn't last long though, as Aaron Whitley and Joseph Rende both walked to lead off the bottom half of the inning. Matzat followed by smacking the first pitch he saw over the left center field fence for his first home run of the year. McKinsey finished the first inning scoring with his ground-rule double to left, plating Reed who was hit by a pitch.
Rochester's second inning featured Cappelletti's clutch two-out, two-run single to left, scoring Matzat and Harper Sy.
In the third, Oswego clawed back into the game when the first three batters of the inning reached safely. Paul Tammaro led off with a double and Enos was hit by a pitch. Lauria then clocked a 3-run shot over the scoreboard and onto Wilson Boulevard to cut the Yellowjacket lead to 6-4.
Cobert settled in after the home run though, finishing his outing strong by retiring the next three batters in order.
During the fourth, Larson was faced with a pressure situation as Enos, the nation's leading hitter, was up to bat with the tying runs aboard. Rochester's right hander fooled the hitter with a breaking ball, getting the strikeout to end the threat.
UR used the momentum to record three extra base hits in the bottom of the inning, boosting its lead to 7-4 after Reed's RBI double.
In the fifth, Rochester's John Moses led off with a single and was pinch-ran for by Luke Gregory. After a McKinsey sacrifice, Josh Leadem singled to put runners on the corners. Oswego's VanDreason tried to pick off Leadem at first, but the throw got away, allowing Gregory to complete the scoring on the night.
Aaronson came in for Larson in the sixth and was tested in a big way in just his fourth collegiate appearance. The Lakers used a walk, hit batter and UR fielding error to load the bases with two outs. Up to bat was Lauria who provided the big hit for Oswego earlier in the game. The Rochester first-year showed his mettle and sat down Oswego's center fielder looking on three straight pitches.
Oswego's last scoring threat came in the eighth against Rojahn. With one out and one on, Tammaro tried to reach via bunt, but Rochester's infield through the sacrifice away allowing runners to sit on second and third. Rojahn regrouped and retired Enos and Lauria on a fly out and ground out to end the inning.
The two teams will meet again in eight days, with Oswego hosting Rochester on April 13th. Up first for the Yellowjackets, is an away series at Clarkson University on Saturday and Sunday.