University of Rochester Athletics

POTSDAM, NY – The University of Rochester baseball team used the long ball in game one to split a doubleheader with Clarkson University on Saturday afternoon at Jack Phillips Stadium.
 
Rochester (21-16) opened the weekend between the top two teams in the Liberty League with a 7-5 win, but Clarkson (18-15) rebounded with a 9-3 victory in game two to secure the split.
 
After Saturday, Clarkson and Union are now tied for first in the league standings with a conference record of 13-7, just percentage points ahead of UR who sits at 14-8.  Fourth place is currently a tie between Vassar and St. Lawrence who have 12-10 records while RPI is 11-11 in sixth.  Each of the top six teams are playing one another on this final Liberty League weekend.
 
In game one, Rochester was led offensively by two players, seniors Matt Todd and Jake Meyerson who each clubbed home runs.  Todd's was of the 3-run variety and came in the top of the 3rd inning and gave the Yellowjackets a 3-0 lead.  After Clarkson responded with three runs to tie it in the bottom of the inning, Meyerson then uncorked a grand slam in the top of the fourth to build a 7-3 Rochester lead.
 
The Golden Knights would add single runs in the fourth and sixth innings, but ended up short in the opener by a 7-5 score.  Rochester's John Ghyzel picked up the win on the mound, going six innings, allowing 7 hits, 5 runs (3 earned), 3 walks while striking out 2.  Sophomore Luke Meyerson earned his third save of the season by pitching a scoreless seventh inning with two strikeouts.
 

Jake Meyerson finished the game 2-4 with 2 runs and 4 RBI while Todd was 2-4 with 3 RBI and a run.  Nolan Schultz added a 2-3 game with a double and run scored.
 
Clarkson's Will Coleman tossed a complete game and picked up the loss, scattering 10 hits and 7 seven runs while striking out five.
 
The nightcap saw the Clarkson bats pound out 17 hits and score nine runs, only five of which were earned thanks in part to four Yellowjacket errors in the field.
 
Rochester was able to strike first, getting a run in the top of the first inning on a Dan Warren RBI single, but Clarkson would answer with four straight runs across the opening four frames of the game to build a 4-1 lead.
 
The 'Jackets scored twice in the fifth to cut the lead to 4-3.  Senior Steve Eychner doubled to left, plating Todd who had reached on a bunt single.  Schultz then made the deficit one with an RBI single to right, scoring Eychner.
 
After that it was all Clarkson, as the Golden Knights scored two in the sixth and three in the seventh to reach the final score of 9-3.
 
Rochester's Evan Janifer was saddled with the loss, going six innings, allowing 14 hits, 6 runs (2 earned), walking 1 and striking out 4.  Freshmen Tyler McConway and Kevin Ho each pitched an inning of relief.
 
The winning pitcher was Clarkson's Ted Wilson who went six, allowed 12 hits and 3 runs with 2 strikeouts.  Ryan Riley earned a save tossing three hitless innings of relief with two strikeouts.
 
In the contest, Eychner and Schultz paced UR each going 3-4 with an RBI.  Eychner added a double and a run scored.
 
The same two teams will meet in a doubleheader on Sunday with Rochester needing a sweep to have a chance at winning the Liberty League regular season title.  Sunday's first pitch is scheduled for noon.