KANNAPOLIS, NC – Backed by a strong pitching performance and some timely hitting in the early innings, the University of Rochester baseball team pulled off an early season upset, defeating 6th-ranked Marietta College 4-1 at the D3 Baseball Showcase at Atrium Health Park.
The win levels Rochester's record on opening day to 1-1 as the Yellowjackets dropped an 8-7 decision earlier in the day to Christopher Newport. Marietta also moves to 1-1 on the season.
Overall, a trio of pitchers held the typically stout Pioneers offense to just five hits and one run, which was unearned on the day. Nolan Sparks, Thomas Blaydes and Mark Aaronson combined to also strikeout 13 Marietta hitters on the day.
Offensively, John Moses provided a big 2-run single in the first inning which proved to be the winning hit. Aaron Whitley went 1-for-3 with a triple, RBI and two runs scored. Jackson Reed finished 1-for-4 with a run, RBI and stolen base. Both Joseph Rende and Dan Tirabassi laced doubles for the 'Jackets.
Marietta's run came in the top of the first, as Sparks got into a little bit of trouble, but eventually recovered, limiting the damage. After an infield single and blooper to left, the Pioneers had two runners on with nobody out.
In the first-and-third situation, Marietta elected to try a double-steal, which Rochester sniffed out as Moses through down to Rende who cutoff the play and threw back for the tag at home for the first out.
A walk and fielders choice error loaded the bases. Sparks then walked Ty Davis, forcing in the Pioneers first and only run. UR's junior started settled in after that, getting a strikeout and pop out to end the threat.
Rochester responded right away in the bottom of the first, grabbing the lead with two runs. Whitley led off reaching on an error and Reed followed suit with a single. After two straight outs, a walk to Josh Leadem loaded the bases for Moses.
UR's catcher laced a chopper through the left side of the infield, plating two runs, putting Rochester ahead 2-1 after an inning.
The Yellowjacket advanced the lead to 4-1 after the second inning. Tirabassi lined a one-out double to center and came in to score when Whitley tripled to right. He came in after Reed reached on a ground ball error to second.
After a walk to start the second, Sparks sat down the next eight hitters in a row on the mound. He capped his day by striking out the side in the fifth. The junior right-hander ended his first start of the year by allowing just four hits and one unearned run with three walks over five innings. He struck out seven.
Blaydes took over in the sixth and provided three innings of scoreless relief for the Yellowjackets, setting a new career-high for longest outing on the mound. He struck out four and allowed just one hit and a pair of walks.
In the ninth, Mark Aaronson nailed down the save pitching around a one-out walk, getting a pair of strikeouts and a pop up to second to end it.
Rochester is back in action on Saturday morning, completing its three-game schedule at the D3 Showcase by playing Piedmont at 9:30 am.