MYRTLE BEACH, SC – The University of Rochester baseball team scored three runs in the first inning and used that momentum to post a 6-1 victory over Kean University on Monday afternoon at Pelicans Stadium.
 
Rochester (4-1) remains hot to start the season, picking up its fourth win in five games over the season's opening three days. The Yellowjackets take on Cairn University later on Monday to complete a stretch of three straight doubleheader days. Kean drops to 11-2 on the season.
 
The Yellowjackets were led by four players who recorded multiple hits in the contest. Colby Cruser went 2-for-3 with a double, home run, 2 RBI and 2 runs. John Moses finished 3-for-4 with two RBI, while Aaron Whitley went 3-for-5 with a run and stolen base. Josh Leadem added a 2-for-4 performance at the plate.
 
On the mound, a trio of pitchers combined to hold the Cougars to one run in the nine-inning contest. Nolan Sparks went the opening four innings and scattered eight hits but yielded no runs. He struck out three and walked one, but was forced from the game after needing 92 pitches during his outing. Matt Casiero tossed the next three and allowed one run on two hits, while Spencer Rojahn cleaned up the win with three strikeouts over the final two frames.
 
UR jumped ahead early as five of the first six batters of the game reached safely. Whitley led off with a walk and remained on base after a Kean error in the infield on Joseph Rende's at-bat. After Cruser was retired on a grounder that moved the runners up to second and third, Harper Sy, Moses and Leadem all singled to drive in runs giving Rochester the 3-0 advantage.
 
Moses picked up his second RBI of the game in the third inning, driving in Cruser who led off the inning with a double down the left field line.
 
Cruser completed Rochester's scoring in the fifth with a 2-run blast over the left center field fence, plating Rende who walked to lead off the inning.
 
Kean's offense had its chances but Rochester pitchers were able to escape jams as the Cougars ended up stranding 11 runners on base over the course of the game.
 
In the first, three straight batters singled with two outs, but left fielder Brian McKinsey ended the threat by tossing a runner out a home trying to score. Kean left the bases loaded in the second as well.
 
The Cougars struck for their run in the seventh. With one on and one out, Casiero gave up a single and wild pitch to put runners at second and third. Michael Lapczynski singled up the middle to erase the shutout, but the UR first-year ended the threat by getting a ground out.
 
Rojahn got his appearance off to a rocky start in the eighth, giving up a two singles and a walk to load the bases. The Rochester senior settled in after that though, striking out the next two batters and getting a lineout to leave three runners stranded. His ninth inning was a bit smoother as he set down the Cougars in order.
 
Justin Diefenbach took the loss on the hill for Kean, giving up 6 runs, 9 hits and 1 walk while striking out 4. Daniel Keenan tossed the final two innings for the Cougars.