University of Rochester Athletics

LEXINGTON, SC – For the second straight game on its spring break trip in South Carolina, the University of Rochester baseball team saw a late inning rally fall just short in a 16-13 loss to Trinity College of Connecticut on Wednesday afternoon.
 
The Yellowjackets (0-2) fell behind early, followed by taking a one-run lead, then surrendered the next 12 runs, only to score the final eight runs of the contest to reach the final margin.  Trinity moves to 1-2 with the victory.
 
Junior Aiden Finch led Rochester offensively with a 3-3 day at the plate, including 2 doubles, 2 RBI, 3 runs and 3 walks.  Aaron Craig was 2-5 at the plate with a run, while late-inning sub Ryland McNabb ended with a 3-RBI day.  First-year outfielder Steve Pickering was 1-4 with 2 RBI, 2 runs and 2 walks.
 
Trinity offensive onslaught featured 18 hits on the day, four of which came off the bat of Matt Koperniak.  He finished 4-5 with 3 runs and 2 RBI.  Teammate Ian Steckel added a 3-3 day at the plate with two runs while his substitute at DH, Mack Lauder clobbered a home run and had three RBI.  Brendan Pierce recorded only one hit, but it was a big one, coming on an inside-the-park grand slam in the Bantams seven-run fifth inning.
 

The Bantams got things started in the top of the first with two runs.  Rochester cut the lead in half in the second when Finch scored on a wild pitch, but Trinity plated two more in the top of the third to go up 4-1.
 
In the bottom of the third, UR scored four times thanks to three Bantam errors to take a 5-4 lead.  Finch singled in Jake Hertz and Pickering plated Jack Herman who both reached via infield miscues.  David Rieth then lifted a flyball to right field which ended up being misplayed as well, allowing two more runs to scamper home.
 
Trinity's fifth inning got off to a quick start with the first three batters reaching via single, error and hit batter, chasing UR starting pitcher Jack Donlon from the game.  A sacrifice fly and then groundout had UR nearly out of the inning only allowing one run, but Trinity reached safely via walks three straight times.  Those walks scored two runs before Pierce's grand slam completed the seven-run inning.
 
The Bantams would add five more runs over the next two innings to take a 16-5 lead after six and a half innings.
 
Rochester would then answer with a seven-run frame of its own in the bottom of the seventh.  Herman led off with a walk and was driven in on a Finch double.  After Pickering reached on a fielders choice, Trinity recorded two strikeouts back-to-back.  UR then saw the next seven batters reach safely.
 
Colin Smith singled in two runs, Craig picked up a hit and Corey Ziring walked to lead the bases.  McNabb lined a double to left and cleared the bases, with Herman, Finch and Pickering all taking free passes to score another run, making it a 16-12 game.
 
A scoreless eighth inning and ninth for Trinity gave UR its final chance at bat.  Ziring led off with a double to left and was brought home by a Herman single up the middle with one out.  Finch then walked to bring the tying run to the plate.  Pickering then ripped a line drive up the right field line, but it was snagged by a leaping Trinity first baseman who stepped on first for a double play to end the game.
 
Donlon ended the game with five strikeouts in four innings, but was saddled with the loss.  Six other UR pitchers combined to finish the game, with Jon Turk and Kevin Ho each throwing a scoreless frame.
 
Trinity starter Justin Olson tossed six innings for the Bantams and allowed five runs while striking out six.  After three relievers struggled, Erik Mohl finished the game, picking up the save over the final 2 1/3 innings.
 
Rochester is back in action later Wednesday against #10 ranked SUNY Cortland.