SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Graduate student Will Conroy twirled a three-hit shutout, leading the University of Rochester baseball team to a 2-0 victory in game one of a Liberty League doubleheader against Skidmore College on Saturday afternoon at Castle Diamond.
Game two of the doubleheader got through five innings with Rochester up 3-1, but play was suspended due to heavy rains in the area. That contest will be completed on Sunday morning.
In the opener, Conroy tossed seven scoreless innings, allowed just three hits and one walk while striking out six Thoroughbreds. He is now 3-0 on the season as a pitcher, his first season on the mound for UR.
Offensively, Rochester scattered 11 hits over seven innings, with three coming off the bat of Steve Pickering while Aiden Finch and Kyle Trombley each recording two hits. Trombley scored both of the Yellowjacket runs and added two more stolen bases to his season total.
UR opened the scoring in the top of the second inning. With one out, Drew Bankovich doubled to right. Trombley followed with a single up the middle to put runners on the corners. Rochester then tried to execute a double-steal, but Bankovich was caught at home, leaving Trombley on second with two outs. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, Ryland McNabb then produced a base hit to give the Yellowjackets a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, Skidmore got a leadoff double from Pat Geiger and a one-out single from Mike Fogarty to get two runners on, but Conroy got a strikeout and line out to end the threat.
In the seventh, the Yellowjackets got a key insurance run. Trombley singled with one out and then stole second and third base to quickly reach scoring position. After a strikeout, Aaron Craig lined a single to right, building UR's lead to 2-0.
Conroy would then set down the Thoroughbreds 1-2-3 in the seventh for the victory.
Jay Gamboa took the loss on the mound for Skidmore. He threw 6.2 innings, allowed 11 hits, 2 runs with 5 strikeouts. Jacob Berish got the final out for the Thoroughbreds.
The two teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Sunday following the conclusion of Saturday's game two contest.