HIGH POINT, NC – Maryville College plated four runs in the top of the ninth inning, rallying past the University of Rochester baseball team 7-4 on Sunday afternoon at Rockers Stadium.
The game closed out Rochester's schedule during the Greensboro College Triad Invitational over the weekend. UR fell to 2-4 with the loss, while the Scots improved to 6-5 win the comeback win.
Rochester was able to get on the board in the first inning, as
Colby Cruser slugged his first home run of the season, scoring two runs as
Jackson Reed was on base after a single.
In the third, graduate student
Henry Jamieson added to the 'Jacket lead with an RBI double, scoring Cruser who reached on a single.
Maryville broke through in the fifth with a pair of runs off of Rochester starter
Dillon Bevan. After a single, Bevan got two outs and looked to avoid giving up a run, but back-to-back singles drove in two runs, cutting the UR lead down to one.
Bevan finished his day on the mound by tossing five innings. He scattered seven hits, two runs and did not issue a walk. He struck out three.
Senior
Dan Tirabassi clubbed a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning, regaining a two-run lead for the Yellowjackets.
The Scots comeback began in the top of the eighth inning against reliever
Mark Aaronson. After a groundout, Aaronson hit a batter and gave up a single to put two runners on. A fly out moved up a runner to third, but pinch-hitter Cody Meier delivered a 2-out single to make the score 4-3. Aaronson struck out the next batter to keep Rochester in front.
After the 'Jackets went down in order in the bottom of the inning, UR turned to
Thomas Blaydes to hold the one run lead in the ninth.
Maryville drew a walk and sacrificed the tying run to second. A single put runners on the corners. The Scots tried a squeeze play to tie the game but catcher
Jack Corcoran was able to hop on the ball and get the runner out at home.
With two outs, Jacob Johnston came up with a clutch 2-run single to put Maryville in front. Another single put two more runners on and Ashton Whiteaker added another 2-run single to cap the big inning.
During the final inning, UR's bats were set down 1-2-3 by Scots relief pitcher Xavier Resto who ended up earning the win.
Cruser paced UR offensively, going 2-for-3 with 2 runs and 2 RBI while adding a walk. Reed also had two hits and a run scored.
Johnston and Whiteaker each had big games for the Scots. Johnston was 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. Witeaker added a 3-for-5 game with a pair of RBI.
Rochester remains in North Carolina on its spring break trip this week. UR plays a doubleheader at William Peace University on Tuesday at Wednesday afternoon.
