CARY, NC – The University of Rochester baseball team had big first innings in both ends of a doubleheader, but was only able to salvage a split against host William Peace University on Tuesday afternoon at the USA Baseball National Training Center.
William Peace took game one by an 8-6 score, with the Yellowjacket bats breaking out in a 12-4 victory in game two.
Rochester moves to 3-5 on the season, while the Pacers now are 3-8 so far in 2024.
Game 1: William Peace 8, Rochester 6
In game one, the Yellowjackets started quick with the first two batters reaching base. The third hitter, Alec Ellison reached on a fielders choice, driving in Jackson Reed who led off with a walk. Three batters later, with two runners on, Dylan Stezzi launched a home run to right, scoring three unearned runs to give the Yellowjackets a 4-0 lead.
Rochester threatened again in the second with Henry Jamieson and Ethan Jaquette both getting hit by a pitch to lead off the frame, but the Pacers relief pitcher Max Kasprowicz wiggled out of the jam.
Escaping trouble game William Peace some momentum heading into their half of the second which they translated into five runs. Rochester helped the Pacers cause with two errors in the frame, leading to two unearned runs.
The Yellowjackets again had runners on in the third, loading the bases with two outs, but William Peace again got a clutch out defensively, hanging on to the one run lead.
William Peace added to its lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. After a double, wild pitch, walk and stolen base, Aaron Kimbel singled to center for a run, with Alex Levesque adding a sacrifice fly in the inning.
UR got those runs back in the top of the fifth when Quincy Jaksch doubled in Stezzi, with Jaquette following with an RBI hit up the middle.
Sitting up 7-6 on the scoreboard, the Pacers got two runners on in the bottom of the fifth, but UR's Jack Subramanian got out of the inning with no damage. The next inning, the first-year reliever was able to strike out the side in order.
The Pacers completed the scoring in the bottom of the eighth inning with a sacrifice fly.
Rochester got the tying runners on base in the top of the ninth with a Jaksch double and Dan Tirabassi walk, but a double play ground ball ended the contest.
Jaksch led the 'Jackets with three hits, all doubles, adding a run scored and RBI. Stezzi added a 2-for-3 game and drove in three with his home run while scoring twice.
On the mound, Matt Casiero started and took the loss. Subramanian struck out four and did not allow a hit in his 3.2 innings. Justin Grossman finished off the pitching innings for UR.
Game 2: Rochester 12, William Peace 4
The Yellowjackets again started quick scoring four more runs in the first inning. Ellison drove in another run with a fielders choice to open the scoring. Jaksch laced another double to score Ellison and later scored on a passed ball. The fourth run was driven in by Sammy Besztery, scoring Tirabassi.
In game two, Rochester backed up its strong first inning with two more runs in the second to boost the lead to 6-0. Another passed ball plated a run, while Jaksch connected on his fifth two-bagger of the day to score Ellison.
William Peace onto the scoreboard in the third, scoring three times. A bases loaded walk drove in one run, while back-to-back singles made it a 6-3 game.
After the Pacers scored one in the bottom of the fourth, UR broke open the game in the fifth, doubling its run total to 12.
Stezzi doubled to start the scoring, driving in two with the bases loaded. An error allowed a third run to come home on the play. Reed later doubled in a run, with Ellison singling in a pair to build Rochester's lead to eight.
The Pacers never threatened the rest of the way against reliever Magnus Sivertson who was credited with the save after going 4.2 innings out of the bullpen. He struck out three.
UR starter Matthew Geier started the game and went 2.1 innings without allowing a hit. He did yield five walks which led to three runs, two earned, while striking out three. Grier was credited with the win in the scheduled bullpen game.
At the plate, Jaksch and Stezzi again led the way with multiple hit efforts. Ellison finished 1-for-4 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored, while Tirabassi added two walks and two runs scored.