ROCHESTER, NY – Both teams had a three-home run game in a split Liberty League doubleheader between the University of Rochester and Ithaca College on Saturday afternoon at Towers Field.
Rochester slugged its way to a comeback win in game one, winning 8-6, before Ithaca used a strong pitching effort in game two, leading to a 7-1 victory.
The two teams remain atop the Liberty League West Division standings, with Ithaca holding the slim lead with an 8-2 division record, ahead of UR's 8-3 mark. Overall, the Bombers are 20-9 on the season, with Rochester sitting at 14-13. The rubber match of the series will be played on Sunday at 1 pm at Ithaca's Freeman Field.
Game 1: Rochester 8, Ithaca 6
Trailing by one in the sixth inning, Ithaca scored four unearned runs thanks to a big error with the bases loaded to take a 6-3 lead midway through the game.
Rochester responded late, scoring five unanswered runs to comeback and steal the opening game, with Alec Ellison, Luke Gregory and Sammy Besztery each providing home runs for the Yellowjackets.
Besztery's blast, his third of the season, but first of the over-the-fence variety, proved to be the game-winner, as he drove in two runs in the bottom of the eighth.
UR got the scoring started with a pair of runs in the second, both of which were unearned thanks to two Ithaca errors. Quincy Jaksch doubled to lead off the inning and Gregory followed by reaching on a dropped fly ball. A throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt loaded the bases.
Two batters later, Jackson Reed reached on a fielders choice to bring in a run, while the next hitter, Colby Cruser got a wind-aided single down the left field line to score the second run.
Rochester starting pitcher Nolan Sparks was able to keep the Bombers off the scoreboard until the fifth when Tyler Pugliese doubled with one-out in the inning, driving in two to tie the game.
Sparks would take a no-decision in the game, going 6 innings while allowing 7 hits, 6 runs (2 earned) with 1 walk and 6 strikeouts.
After Ithaca tied the game, a solo shot from Ellison regained the Yellowjackets lead in the bottom of the fifth.
During the sixth, a leadoff single and walk put two runners on base. After a fielders choice, another single loaded the bases.
Sparks got a key groundout and thought he would escape the jam, but Collin Feeney's fly ball to center field was dropped, allowing three runs to scamper home. Feeney followed by stealing third, with Pugliese picked up his third RBI of the game rapping a single up the middle.
UR's Gregory responded with a two-run blast to left field in the bottom of the inning, his first of the season and fifth of his career, making the score 6-5 with Ithaca in front.
The Yellowjackets went to the bullpen in the seventh and Magnus Sivertson promptly set down the Bombers in order.
Later in the inning, UR used some small ball to generate the tying run. Reed singled to lead off the inning and was bunted to second by Cruser. Ellison grounded out to short, moving Reed to third, where he would later score on a wild pitch.
In the eighth, Sivertson yielded a walk, hit batter and single to load the bases with one out. Sammy Rosenfield took over and got a big strikeout before Ellison made a slick play at first base, keeping the game tied.
Rosenfield would eventually earn the win after Rochester took the lead in the eighth on Besztery's home run.
Josh Leadem came in from his right field position to look to close out win. The UR senior was making just his third pitching appearance of his career and pitched around an infield single and walk to earn the save, stranding the tying runners on base.
Gregory led UR's offensive output with a 2-for-4 game with a home run, 2 RBI and 3 runs scored. Reed also had two hits while Jaksch scored twice for the Yellowjackets.
Game 2: Ithaca 7, Rochester 1
Ithaca first-year starter Jack Picozzi tossed eight strong innings in leading the Bombers to the split doubleheader, limiting Rochester to just 6 hits and 1 run in the nightcap. He struck out six and walked none, moving to 3-1 on the season.
The Bombers were able to jump on the board early, tagging UR starter Dillon Bevan for five runs over the opening two frames.
In the first, Camden Laney homered to straightaway center field for the early 2-0 lead. The next inning, Feeney lifted a long ball to down the right field line to extend the margin. Ethan McDonough would later triple to right and score on a wild pitch, making the score 5-0 after two.
Ithaca continued to score, getting single runs in the third and fourth to boost its lead to seven. Colin Shashaty provided an RBI ground out in the third before Riley Brawdy laced a solo home run, Ithaca's third of the game to right during the fourth inning.
After that, the Bombers were held off the board in a strong relief performance from Jack Subramanian, but it was not enough as the UR offense could only muster one run, coming on a Leadem and Nathan Carpenter-Holmes double steal in a first-and-third situation.
At the plate, Besztery had two of UR's seven hits in the game, extending his hitting streak to 12 games, matching the longest by a Rochester player this season.
Bevan took the loss on the mound for the Yellowjackets with Matt Bradley, Justin Grossman and Subramanian all getting work in out of the bullpen.
Subramanian was stellar, tossing five innings of 2-hit relief, finishing with one walk and one strikeout. He needed just 48 pitches to finish the game out for UR.