PITTSFORD, NY – A high-powered St. John Fisher College offense was able to sweep a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at Dugan Yard, winning 12-5 and 10-7 over the University of Rochester.
 
UR's opening week of the season closed with a 2-2 record after a sweep of Cortland on Wednesday. The Cardinals remain perfect on the young season, sitting at 6-0. The same two teams meet this coming Wednesday for a single 9-inning contest.
 
The Yellowjackets scored the first four runs of the game in the opener, leading 4-0 after two and a half innings. Luke Piontek drove in a run on a fielders choice in the second and the following inning, John Moses blasted a 2-run home run to left, with an additional run scoring because of a SJFC error.
 
The bottom of the third saw the hosts score six runs to take the lead. Eleven batters came to the plate in the big inning.
 
Joseph Rende laced a one-out double in the next inning and scored on a Steve Pickering single, trimming the Cardinal lead to 6-5, but St. John Fisher responded in the bottom of the fourth with three runs to extend its advantage back to four, leading 9-5.
 
In the fifth, the Cardinals added three more to complete the scoring in the opening game.
 
For UR, Pickering finished 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Rende was 2-for-4 with two doubles while Piontek had two hits and a stolen base. On the mound, Jason Cobert took the loss, giving up six runs in 2.2 innings of work.
 
In game two, Rochester again earned the early lead, scoring two runs in the top of the third. Rende reached on an infield single, scoring Aaron Whitley and Pickering followed with an RBI single to left to put the visitors up 2-0.
 
Another big inning for the Cardinals allowed the home team to jump ahead 7-2 after four. St. John Fisher sent 12 batters to the plate this time and was aided by five hits, two hit batters, a balk and a couple passed balls to score the seven runs.
 
The Yellowjackets tried to mount a comeback late. Trailing 8-2 entering the eighth inning, Rochester plated five runs to cut the deficit to just one, 8-7.
 
Back-to-back one-out doubles scored a run, with Jacob Matzat driving in Piontek. After another out, Brian McKinsey walked and Jackson Reed was hit by a pitch and the bases were loaded for Whitley who cleared the bases with a triple to right. Rende singled in Whitley in the next at-bat to finish off the five-run frame.
 
The one-run lead quickly boosted back up the three as St. John Fisher tallied two runs in the bottom of the inning, coming on a single up the middle and double to right.
 
In the ninth, UR got the tying run to the plate thanks to an error and walk, but the Cardinals were able to escape the jam and secure the win.
 
Whitley and Matzat did the damage at the plate in the nightcap for Rochester. Whitley went 3-for-5 with 2 triples, 2 runs and 3 RBI. Matzat also went 3-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI and run scored. Rende had two hits and two RBI while Piontek had two hits, including a double.
 
Trevor Van Allen took the loss on the mound striking out three in 3.2 innings of work while giving up six runs.