PRINCE ATHLETIC COMPLEX – Visiting Clarkson University avoided the series sweep, scoring its most ever runs in the all-time series against the University of Rochester, winning 19-9 in Liberty League baseball action on Saturday afternoon at Towers Field.
 
The win is Clarkson's first in the last 15 games against Rochester, dating back to the 2021 season. UR falls to 7-7 on the season and is 2-1 in the Liberty League, while Clarkson moves to 7-5 overall and is 1-2 in conference play.
 
Saturday's contest got moved up to a 10 am start due to weather, and it seemed like the Yellowjacket pitchers never got the memo, combining to allow 15 hits while issuing 11 walks, with the runs and walks allowed being the most for UR in a game this season. Three Rochester errors also contributed to nine of the runs being unearned in the game.
 
The loss also snaps Rochester's six-game winning streak overall, all coming in the Yellowjackets current 10-game homestand that goes through Wednesday's matchup with SUNY Brockport.
 
On Saturday, Clarkson jumped on the Yellowjackets early, leading 2-0 after just two batters. A leadoff walk was issued to Seth Albert and Aidan Keufner followed with a 2-run home run over the left field fence. Later in the inning, the Golden Knights made it 3-0, scoring a run on a wild pitch.
 
Both teams went down in order in the second before Clarkson tacked on two more runs in the third, with Beau Vardion ripping a bases loaded ground-rule double to left.
 
UR broke the Clarkson shutout in the third inning, with Colby Cruser lining a double to right center, scoring Matt Rieth who reached on a Golden Knights error.
 
In the fourth, the Golden Knights broke the game open, sending 13 men to the plate, scoring nine runs to lead 14-1. After just one run had scored, UR committed a big two-out throwing error, scoring two more runs and keeping the inning alive.
 
After the error, five more batters in a row reached safely, allowing six additional runs to cross home plate.
 
Ethan Jaquette lifted a solo home run to center in UR's bottom of the fourth and later in the inning Jackson Reed drove in a run on a fielder's choice, but the Yellowjackets missed an opportunity to cut into the 14-3 lead, stranding the bases loaded.
 
Clarkson's second home run of the game came in the top of the fifth, with James Mason blasting a two-run shot to center field to boost the score to 16-3.
 
UR's Matt Casiero quieted the Clarkson bats over his two-plus inning outing, keeping the score 16-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh when the Yellowjackets needed four runs to keep the game going and avoid the Liberty League 10-run mercy rule.
 
UR did just that, scoring six times to make it a 16-9 game after seven innings. Back-to-back doubles from Reed and Cruser started the inning strong. After a Josh Leadem single, Jaquette picked up an RBI on a fielders choice and Alexander Gonzalo followed with a single.
 
Following a Golden Knights pitching change, Sammy Besztery doubled to left, scoring two and two batters later, Sammy Smith did the same thing, trimming the Clarkson lead down to seven.
 
The momentum didn't last though, as Clarkson's bats woke up again in the next inning, pounding out four singles to score three runs and regain a 10-run advantage.
 
In the eighth, UR went down in order, allowing the game to be called prior to its fully scheduled nine innings.
 
At the plate for Rochester, Cruser led the 'Jackets, going 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and a run scored. Jaquette and Besztery each finished with two hits, two runs and two RBI.
 
Clarkson's Kuefner finished a triple shy of the cycle, going 3-for-6 with three runs scored and six RBI. C.J. Cartier added three hits, while Mason finished reached base four times and ended with two runs and three RBI.
 
On the mound, Casiero was the lone 'Jacket hurler to not allow a run, going 2.2 innings in relief while allowing just one hit, striking out one. Mark Aaronson took the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) in the opening inning.
 
Clarkson's most effective pitcher was Ryan Petrie who got the final five outs of the game, picking up the win. Jacob Shirley got the start for the Golden Knights and struck out four in four innings.