UTICA, N.Y. – Rochester rallied for two runs in the fifth and three more in the seventh to post an 8-6 victory over Utica College in the second game of a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon.
 
The rally gave the Yellowjackets a split of the twinbill. Utica bounced back from an early hole to grab an 8-4 win in the opener. Rochester is 10-16 overall and now is scheduled to play eight home games in the next six calendar days – scheduled DHs vs. Nazareth (Thursday), Skidmore (Saturday), Clarkson (Sunday), and SUNY Fredonia (Tuesday). The Skidmore and Clarkson games are Liberty League encounters.
 
Rochester's win put a snag in Utica's northern success. The Pioneers entered the first game with nine wins in their last 12 games. The 8-4 victory made it 10 in 13. Utica is 13-13 overall after game two. A year ago, Rochester swept the doubleheader, winning game two on a walk-off grand slam by Brittany Grage.
 
Sam Malecki earned a complete game victory in game one. She gave up 10 hits, walked four, and struck out one. All six runs were earned.

With Rochester ahead, 8-4, heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Pioners strung together three straight hits to produce one run. Malecki induced a pop up to Kayla Kibling at short for the first out. A base hit and an infield grounder got the hosts within 8-6 before Malecki encouraged a comebacker to end the game.
 
The defensive gem of the day was turned in by Rochester right fielder Jocelynn Blackshear. UR had just taken a 5-4 lead in its half of the fifth (Blackshear's single was in the middle of the rally). In the bottom of the inning, Utica had a runner on second with two down. Stephanie Siriano, who lashed a two-run triple in the opening game win (and stole home in each game), lined a ball to right in a bid for a tie and extra bases. Blackshear made a diving catch to end the inning and turn the tide.
 
Utica jumped ahead 4-0 in the first but Rochester scored three in the second. Kibling had a two-run single and Shelby Corning doubled her home. In the fifth, Raegan  Herne scored on a passed ball and Rachael Pletz doubled home Blackshear.
 
A walk and three straight hits produced three insurance runs in the seventh. With one down, Liz Bourne walked and Jackie Yencik ran for her. Eleni Wechsler doubled her home and Harleigh Kaczegowicz followed with a triple down the right field line\. She scored on Logan Mohr's single to right.