KANNAPOLIS, NC – The University of Rochester baseball team rallied to defeat Susquehanna University 7-6 in the 2024 season opener on Friday evening, taking part in the D3 Showcase at Atrium Health Ballpark.
Rochester (1-0) used a big seventh inning, plating four runs to storm back against the River Hawks (1-2) who held a 3-run lead entering the frame. Jackson Reed provided the big hit, a 2-run triple and later scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch to put the Yellowjackets in front.
Reliever Thomas Blaydes was perfect out of the bullpen, picking up the win by tossing 2.2 innings of scoreless ball. He did not allow a hit and struck out three, two of which came in a quick ninth inning.
In the top of the first, the River Hawks threatened right away against 'Jacket starter Nolan Sparks after Sean McCulloch drew a leadoff walk and stole second.
After a strikeout, Tony Rossi lined one of his three hits on the day to right field moving McCulloch to third. But in trying to score on the single, McCulloch was gunned out at home by UR outfielder Josh Leadem threw a strike to home plate, with catcher Joe Siciliano applying the tag.
Leadem followed in the bottom of the inning by opening the scoring for Rochester. He tripled with two outs to left center, driving in first-year Sammy Besztery who reached via walk.
The Yellowjacket lead doubled in the next inning as Alexander Gonzalo jumped on a fastball from Susquehanna starter Ryan Redmond and blasted his first career home run over the left field fence.
On the mound, Sparks settled in during the second and third frames, setting down Susquehanna in order twice, but the River Hawks broke through in the fourth with four runs to take the lead.
The big blow was by Thomas Romanelli who cleared the bases with an RBI triple down the right field line. Chris Orrego followed with an RBI single and the River Hawks were up 4-2 after four innings, chasing Sparks.
UR chipped away at the lead with a single tally in the sixth, delivered on a single up the middle by graduate student Henry Jamieson. He drove in Leadem who walked and stole second.
Out of the bullpen, Matt Casiero pitched well for the 'Jackets in relief of Sparks through two innings, but yielded two Susquehanna insurance runs in the top of the seventh.
After the seventh inning stretch, Rochester connected on its big inning as Redmond began to tire on the mound. Dan Tirabassi walked and Dylan Stezzi reached on a single to put two runners on, forcing the River Hawks to make a pitching change.
With two runners on at second and third, Siciliano grounded out to second to plate a run. Ethan Jaquette followed by drawing a walk against reliever Teagan Duffie to bring the go-ahead run to the plate in Reed.
The senior stepped up and ripped a line drive into the gap in left center to tie the score, moving to third with the one-out triple.
With Besztery at the plate, Duffie uncorked a high fastball that got away from the catcher, allowing Reed to trot home with the go-ahead run.
After UR got the lead, Blaydes was lights out on the hill for Rochester, setting down the River Hawks 1-2-3 in both the eighth and ninth to preserve the win.
Reed finished 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI, while Leadem reached base three times, going 2-for-3 with a triple, walk and RBI.
On the mound, Sparks finished with seven strikeouts for the Yellowjackets across four innings. He allowed four hits and four runs. Casiero added 2.1 innings of work and allowed two unearned runs while striking out three.
For Susquehanna, Redmond struck out eight over six-plus innings. Duffie was tagged with the loss and Brice Gregory added a scoreless inning. At the plate, Rossi finished 3-for-3 with an RBI, while Romanelli did the most damage, driving in three on his lone hit.
Rochester is back in action on Saturday afternoon with a 4:30 pm matchup against Washington & Lee University.