The University of Rochester exploded for 17 runs in the first game, then hung on versus a ninth-inning Union rally to defeat visiting Union College, 17-6, and 9-7, in college baseball at Towers Field.
Rochester improved to 12-3 overall, 6-0 in the Liberty League. Union, which opened its Liberty League season, is 3-8 overall, 0-2 in the Liberty League. The same two teams will play on Sunday, this time with Union hitting as the home team at Rochester's field.
Steve Just drive in five runs for Rochester in the opener. He was 2-for-3 and scored twice. He had a two-run single in the third, then hit a three-run home run in the fifth. Andy Cannon was 3-for-3 with three runs scored. Alex Caghan and Nate Stein also scored three runs apiece for the Yellowjackets. Rochester scored 12 runs in its first three at-bats, half of them unearned.
Dan Ludwig pitched three-hit ball over five innings to pick up his third win of the year. He walked three and struck out two. He gave up one earned run. Union jumped on reliever D.J. Schwartz in the sixth, scoring five runs on four hits and one error. John Johnson hit a three-run home run and four batters later, Anthony Cassese followed with a two-run shot.
Phil Kemp (1-1) took the loss for Union. After giving up four runs in the first (two unearned), he was undone by a combination of three walks and two hits in the second. Cody Portin pitched the last five innings for the Dutchmen.
In game two, Rochester burst to a 7-0 lead through four innings. The key hit was a grand slam home run in a five-run fourth by Stein. Union scratched out three unearned runs in its half of the fifth, only to see Rochester get one back on a double by Matt Francis, a stolen base, and a wild pitch. Cannon singled home a run in the seventh, stretching the lead to 9-3.
Nate Kowal gave up only four hits in eight innings with one walk, eight strikeouts, and no earned runs allowed. The loss went to Union's Andy Catellier. He allowed six hits, seven runs (five earned), and walked two in three and two-thirds innings.
The Dutchmen made it interesting in the top of the ninth against reliever Ned Chanatry. Two walks and a single loaded the bases. Chanatry struck out Marc Douglas. Dylan Katz-Wicks singled to left. Dane Flavin scored, but Andy Brown was thrown out at the plate. Jarid Hotaling was hit by a pitch, re-loading the bases. Johnson walked, forcing home Joe Privitera (9-5). Paul Mene singled to right, scoring two and putting runners on the corners (9-7). Corey King replaced Chanatry on the mound and struck out pinch hitter Tyler Heck to end the game.
