HENRIETTA, NY – The University of Rochester baseball team completed a weekend three-game sweep over Clarkson University, winning 9-6 on Sunday afternoon at MCC's Baseball Complex.
The Yellowjackets (12-11, 7-2 Liberty League) scored runs in four straight innings to start the game, taking the lead in the third inning.
Clarkson (7-12, 0-8 Liberty League) scored three in the first inning, but were limited to just three runs the remaining eight innings by four Yellowjacket relief pitchers.
This weekends series was shifted to Rochester after heavy rains and wintery weather up in Potsdam this week made Clarkson's field unplayable. Due to the track and field meet going on at the River Campus, the series finale was held at MCC.
Rochester opened the scoring in the top of the first inning on a Josh Leadem single to right. Leadem's hit drove in Alec Ellison who rapped a single to left, extending his UR season-high hit-streak to 12 games.
In the bottom of the first, Clarkson struck for three runs off UR starter Thomas Blaydes. A leadoff walk followed by a triple and double gave the Golden Knights the lead. Later, a sacrifice fly put Clarkson up 3-1 after one, but Blaydes stranded a runner on with a strike out to end the frame.
Back-to-back hits to open the second inning allowed UR to cut into the deficit. Alexander Gonzalo singled to center and Luke Gregory lined a double down the left field line to make the score 3-2.
Clarkson looked to add to the lead in the second against reliever Magnus Sivertson, but after loading the bases, Sivertson wiggled out of the jam after getting a strikeout of Quinn Maslowski.
Ellison kept his hot streak going with a leadoff solo blast to left, recording his second home run of the season. Two batters later after Leadem walked, Dylan Stezzi singled to right center advancing Leadem to third, who later would come in thanks to a fielding error in the outfield.
The Yellowjackets kept the scoring run going in the fourth. After a leadoff strikeout, Jackson Reed walked and Sammy Besztery singled. A flyout gave Clarkson two outs, but another walk to Leadem loaded the bases.
Stezzi followed another walk to bring in a run and Gonzalo laced a double to left to score two more runs, boosting the Yellowjacket lead to 7-3.
Both teams were held off the scoreboard until the top of the seventh. Gonzalo led off with a double. On Gregory's sacrifice bunt attempt to the pitch, a missed catch at first allowed Gonzalo to move up to third and race around to score, unearned.
Clarkson answered back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly and ground out.
In the eighth, Ellison led off with a double and showed off his speed, scoring from second on a sacrifice bunt by Leadem.
The Golden Knights trimmed the lead back to three on a Kent Wilson double to right.
For the second straight game, Mark Aaronson closed out the victory in the ninth inning, pitching around a 1-out single to preserve the 9-6 win.
Aaronson's save was the 13th of his career, tying John Fishback '08 for the Rochester all-time record. The junior right hander set the UR single-season record last season with 11 saves.
Gonzalo finished the day 3-for-5 with 2 doubles, 2 runs and 2 RBI. Ellison added a 3-for-5 day, finishing a triple shy of the cycle. He scored three runs and had one RBI. Leadem was 1-for-2 with 2 runs, 2 walks and 2 RBI.
On the mound, Sivertson picked up the win tossing three scoreless innings. He allowed four hits and struck out six. Zach Herzog also pitched well out of the bullpen going two innings without allowing a run. Sammy Rosenfield pitched the seventh and eighth inning before Aaronson locked up the win.
Rochester's next game is a home matchup against perennial Division III power SUNY Cortland at 6 pm on Wednesday at Towers Field.