The University of Rochester was eliminated from the Liberty League baseball championships on Saturday after losses to Skidmore (6-5) and Clarkson (8-0). The result means Skidmore and Clarkson will play for the Liberty League automatic bid on Sunday morning at Towers Field.

Skidmore held off repeated Rochester challenges. Senior lefty Spencer Marcus scattered seven hits over eight innings to get his ninth win of the season. He allowed three runs (one earned), walked two, and struck out two. Zack Rudman battled through the ninth to get his seventh save. He yielded two hits, two unearned runs, and had one strikeout.

The win boosted Skidmore's record to 29-13, a single-season mark for victories. Rochester finished at 29-12. Clarkson is 19-17 with its win over the Yellowjackets.

Rudman was 3-for-5 with two RBIs and one run scored for the Thoroughbreds. Anthony Ferri doubled home Rudman in the fourth for a 1-0 lead. Rochester got even in the sixth. With one out, Nate Stein singled to right. When the ball was over-run in the outfield, Stein took second. He scored on Steve Just's line drive double down the right field line.

Skidmore's aggressiveness on the base paths paid off with three unearned runs in the seventh for a 4-1 lead. With two outs and Matty Tatkow on first, Jake Mendell was hit by a pitch. Adam Cornachione singled off Nate Kowal's glove. The ball caromed to Stein at short. When Tatkow over-ran third, Stein threw to Blayne Fuke trying to catch him off base. Tatkow ran home. Fuke chased him and threw the ball to Casey Storme. Tatkow crashed into Storme, jarring the ball loose and scored the tiebreaking run. Later in the inning, Rudman singled home two more runs.

In Rochester's half, the Yellowjackets drew within 4-3. Storme reached on an error. With one out, Fuke singled him to third. Cannon doubled into the left field corner, scoring Storme and sending Fuke to third. Matt Francis flied to center, getting Fuke home and Rochester within 4-3.

Two more unearned runs put Skidmore on top 6-3 in the eighth. Rob Rubenstein walked. Steve Guzski relieved, becoming the third Rochester pitcher. A bunt moved Rubenstein to second. Matt Pisani walked. Guzski tried to pick Pisani off first base, but the throw sailed past Just. Rubenstein scored and Pisani moved to third. He scored on Mendell's single to center.

Rochester's ninth-inning rally fell just short. Rudman got the first out before Fuke reached on an error. Cannon singled to right with Fuke racing to third. Francis singled to right center, scoring Fuke and moving Cannon to third. Stein ripped a grounder to first which Alex Barber blocked with his chest, then got the putout at first as Cannon scored and Francis moved to second. Rudman got Just swinging to end the game.

The loss put the Yellowjackets into an elimination game vs. Clarkson (which had beaten St. Lawrence, 11-3, in the first game of the day). The Golden Knights rode the bat of Brady Torbitt who hit a double and home run, driving home four runs. Alex Giovannone worked 7.1 innings to get his third win. He allowed 10 hits, walked three, and struck out three. Vincent Baldwin gave up two hits in 1.2 innings and struck out one.

David Kinney also homered for the Golden Knights. He hit a home run in the win over St. Lawrence as well.

For Rochester, Fuke, Francis, Storme, and Jon Menke all had two hits. The Yellowjackets had 12 hits, but left 11 men on base, seven in scoring position.