CLINTON, NY – A valiant comeback effort from the University of Rochester baseball team fell short as Hamilton College's Michael Tallarida hit a walk-off 3-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to post a 13-11 win at the Loop Road Athletic Complex.
Rochester (15-9) scored eight straight run from the fifth through the top of the ninth inning, rallying from as many as seven runs down to take the lead following an error on a Jackson Reed blooper in the ninth. Joseph Rende provided the big hit in the final frame for Rochester, doubling in two runs to tie the score at 10-all.
In the bottom of the inning, Hamilton (13-8) got its leadoff runner on base via walk. After a sacrifice bunt and another walk, Tallarida blasted an 0-2 pitch off of Mark Aaronson over the right field wall to send the home Continentals into a frenzy after the win.
The walk-off game is the second straight for the Yellowjackets, as UR earned a win on Saturday when Josh Leadem hit a solo shot to center to defeat Clarkson 7-6 in ten innings.
On Tuesday, Rochester struck first with a Rende RBI single in the top of the first inning, but Hamilton quickly answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half to jump ahead 2-1.
In the second, the Continentals pounded out five hits and scored six runs to balloon the lead out to 8-1.
Rochester struck for two runs in the third on a Rende RBI groundout and Reed RBI single to center.
Hamilton got those two runs right back in the bottom of the fourth though on a Matt Kinne home run to left, extending its lead back to seven, up 10-3.
Rochester pitchers shut the Continental offense down after that until the ninth. Justin Grossman and Luke Boylan combined for four scoreless innings in relief of Colby Cruser who struck out four in his outing. Grossman and Boylan combined to not allow a hit over their efforts, facing just two over the minimum in that span.
The Yellowjacket comeback began in the fifth. Reed singled in Aaron Whitley and later in the inning Dan Tirabassi was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, plating another run. Rende lifted a sacrifice fly to left in the next inning and UR trailed 10-6.
UR kept chipping away, getting a run on a Colton Avera fielders choice in the eighth.
During the ninth inning, pinch hitter Dylan Stezzi led off with a double. After a ground out, Leadem doubled Stezzi in to cut the lead to 10-8.
After Leadem stole third, Whitley walked to reach base for the fifth time in the game and promptly stole second to put the tying runs in scoring position. Rende stepped up and laced his double to left center leveling the score at 10-10.
Another ground out put two outs on the board for Rochester, but Reed followed with a blooper to center which was dropped by the Hamilton short stop, allowing Rende to cross home and put the Yellowjackets in front 11-10.
UR's top third of the lineup shined on Tuesday, with Leadem, Whitley and Rende combining to go 10-for-15 with 10 runs scored and 6 RBI. Rend was 3-for-5 with a double, two runs and five RBI. Whitley was 4-for-5 with a double, four runs and two steals. Leadem added a 3-for-5 game with four runs and two steals. Reed also had a solid day, notching two RBI and going 3-for-5.
Rochester is right back in action on Wednesday evening with a 6:30 pm matchup against Oswego State at Towers Field.