From University of Rochester Athletics
The Rochester baseball team and Clarkson University split a conference doubleheader for the second day in a row, clinching a berth in the Liberty League playoffs in the process.
UR was able to ride a strong pitching effort to a 4-0 win in game one while the Golden Knights rebounded with a 9-3 win in game two. Rochester ends the regular season with a 22-17 record and 15-9 mark in the Liberty League. Clarkson ends its regular season 19-16 overall and 14-8 in the conference.
Both Clarkson and Rochester have now qualified for the 4-team Liberty League Championships, slated to be run next Thursday through Saturday. The winner of that double-elimination tournament will earn the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Junior David Strandberg and sophomore Luke Meyerson combined on a six-hit shutout in the opening game, clinching UR's spot in the playoffs. Strandberg earned his first win of the season, tossing 5.1 scoreless innings, allowing five hits (all singles), while walking and striking out one. Meyerson picked up a save for the second straight day, allowing just one hit over the final 1.2 innings.
All of Rochester's offense came in the fourth inning off of CU starter Eddie Miller. With one down, Steve Eychner and Nolan Schultz singled around Aiden Finch reaching via error to load the bases. Senior Dan Warren then walked, forcing in the first run of the game. After a wild pitch plated Finch, junior Pete Carrier singled to left center scoring Schultz and Warren for a 4-0 lead.
The three hits in the fourth were all UR could muster in the game off of Miller, but that was enough as Meyerson shut the door in the sixth and seventh. In the top of the sixth, three straight one out singles loaded the bases and forced Strandberg from the game. Meyerson came in and got a big ground ball which turned into a 5-4-3 double play to end the threat.
In the seventh, Clarkson's leadoff hitter reached base, but another double play erased that chance as UR held on for the win.
Clarkson's Miller went the full six innings, surrendering 3 hits, 4 runs (3 earned) and 2 walks while striking out 4.
Game two saw the Golden Knights jump out to an early 4-0 lead after two innings, thanks in part to 2-RBI hits from Brad Pearson in the first and Greg Jasek in the second off of Rochester freshman starter Jack Denzer.
In the fourth inning, Schultz put the Yellowjackets on the board with a sac fly, scoring Matt Todd.
Clarkson would scratch single runs across in the fifth and seventh innings, building a 6-1 lead, but Rochester's Jake Meyerson provided a clutch hit to right in the bottom of the seventh, trimming the lead in half, making it 6-3 Clarkson.
In the eighth, Rochester's Eychner and Finch had back-to-back singles to start the inning. After Schultz moved them up with a bunt, Carrier walked to load the bases with one out, having the tying runs on base. But Clarkson reliever Joe Rooney would get a strike out and line out to end the inning.
The Golden Knights would then added three runs in the top of the ninth to boost their lead to six and reach the eventual final score of 9-3.
Denzer ended up going five innings on the mound for UR, surrendering 10 hits, 5 runs while walking 1 with 1 strikeout. Freshman Andrew Klee pitched three innings of relief while classmate Kevin Ho tossed one inning.
Clarkson used five pitchers in the game two win. Starter Ian Castle went four innings, allowed one hit and one run and earned the win. Mike Bubniak then went 2.1 innings and gave up one hit and two runs while Andrew Smith, Rooney and Jasek each pitched an inning or less in the victory.
Offensively for the Yellowjackets, Schultz led the way, going 2-2 with a run and an RBI. The senior ended up going 8-12 with 3 runs and 2 RBI during the four game series.