PRINCE ATHLETIC COMPLEX – The University of Rochester baseball team opened up the final weekend of the regular season with a 9-3 win over Liberty League rival RIT on Friday afternoon at Towers Field.
The victory pushes Rochester to 24-11 overall and 15-2 in the Liberty League, leaving UR one win away from clinching the West division and overall Liberty League conference titles. The Tigers (16-13, 8-6 Liberty League) also still have a chance at the Division crown, with a sweep of Saturday's scheduled doubleheader at RIT.
Rochester is now 11-2 in the West division, while RIT is now 8-3. The Yellowjackets have secured a top-2 seed, and hosting duties, for the crossover series next weekend, thanks to Hobart's win over Ithaca to close out that series.
In Friday's win, UR got a big 3-run home run from Alec Ellison to open the scoring in the second inning to take the early lead.
Rochester's offense went cold over the next four innings, recording just three singles, while being held off the scoreboard.
Over that time, the Tigers were able to scrape together three runs combined in the fourth and fifth innings to tie the game against UR starter Nolan Sparks.
Jarin Moses singled to left with two runners on to break the shutout and two batters later, Kyle Poorman singled to the opposite field, driving in another run. Moses also tried to score on the play for RIT, but was gunned out at the plate by a strong throw from Rochester's Josh Leadem.
In the fifth, John Bagley lifted a solo shot to left center, tying the game at three.
Sparks finished the game striking out seven over his five innings of work, surrendering 8 hits, 3 runs and 1 walk. He did not factor in the decision, snapping a streak of five straight appearances with a win.
Out of the bullpen, UR turned to senior Thomas Karpishin who was excellent, tossing the final four innings of the game. He allowed just two hits and one walk, striking out two while holding RIT off the scoreboard. He earned the win, moving to 2-2 on the season.
RIT's first reliever Jack Luensmann, who entered the game for starter Jon Opalewski, was rolling along in his outing, giving up just two hits over his first 3.2 innings out of the pen.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Rochester finally was able to break through against the right-handed relief pitcher. After Dan Tirabassi was hit by a pitch, Leadem and Aaron Whitley both singled on the first pitch to put UR up 4-3.
Whitley stole second to put two runners into scoring position and Joseph Rende laced a line drive up the middle to score two more runs. The next batter, Jackson Reed, continued the 2-out rally with a 2-run home run to left center, pushing the score to 8-3.
In the eighth, RIT got two runners on against Karpishin, but a harmless fielder's choice groundout ended the threat.
UR added an unearned run in the bottom of the eighth and Karpishin tossed a 1-2-3 ninth on just seven pitches to close out the victory.
Three players, Leadem, Rende and Reed all finished with two hits in the game for the Yellowjackets. Rende and Reed drove in two and Reed also scored twice. Ellison plated three runs with his home run, his second of the season.
RIT's leading hitters were Bagley, Roberto Reade and Poorman who ended with two hits apiece. Bagley also scored twice for the Tigers.
The same two teams meet tomorrow at noon for a doubleheader starting at noon at RIT's Baseball Complex.