WINTER HAVEN, FL – The University of Rochester baseball team topped Wesleyan University 8-5 on Tuesday afternoon at the RussMatt Invitational, keeping its strong start to the 2026 season going.
 
Overall, the Yellowjackets now sit at 5-1 on the campaign, with Wesleyan still looking for its first victory at 0-4.
 
The Yellowjackets pounded out 14 hits, with the top third of the lineup each getting two knocks. Carlos Barajas went 3-for-4, George Farley IV was 2-for-4 and Sammy Besztery also ended 2-for-4. Barajas and Farley IV had doubles, while Besztery reached four times, adding two walks while also scoring two runs.
 
Randy Davis chipped in two hits and two runs scored, while Tristan Datta drove in two runs on a base hit and bases loaded walk.
 
On the mound, James Nelson was terrific for the second straight outing in Florida, going five innings while giving up just four hits. He allowed two runs, but only one was earned. He walked one while fanning four batters.
 
Five Yellowjacket relievers finished off the game, including Christopher Trucano, Ryan Balent, Ryan Arora, Theo Beckley and Jake Del Vecchio. Balent, Beckley and Del Vecchio each tossed an inning, with Arora getting credit for the win, striking out two in his outing. Del Vecchio pitched around a hit and error in the ninth to earn his second career save.
 
Overall, the Yellowjacket pitching staff held the Cardinals to just six hits in the game, with only James Marsden finishing with multiple hits, going 2-for-5.
 
Rochester got off to a quick start once again, plating a run in the top of the first. Barajas led off with a double to left and was moved up on a bunt by Farley IV. Besztery followed with a single to left and the Yellowjackets were up 1-0 after just three batters.
 
A leadoff walk started the bottom of the first, but Nelson quickly erased that with a 6-3 double play up the middle. He struck out the next hitter and URochester led by one after one.
 
Wesleyan was able to sneak in front in the bottom of the third getting a pair of runs on a throwing error and squeeze bunt play.
 
In the fourth, UR responded and tied the score when Barajas lifted a fly ball to left with the bases loaded, scoring Davis. But the two men on threat was erased when during the next at-bat, the baserunner misjudged the count and was picked off of second base.
 
Rochester regained its lead in the top of the fifth on RBI singles from Jake Bentivenga and Datta.
 
During the sixth inning, Wesleyan battled back to tie the game with a pair of runs. A walk, error on a pickoff and hit batter put runners on the corner before Marsden reached on a bunt single that scored a run. After a strikeout, another walk loaded the bases before Marcus Jang reached on a fielders choice out to score the tying run.
 
Davis led off the UR half of the seventh by getting hit by a pitch, but that threat was erased with a sacrifice bunt and two strikeouts looking.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Wesleyan had two runners on with two outs, but Arora got Marsden to strike out swinging to keep the game tied.
 
URochester struck for four 2-out runs in the eighth on just three hits. Four Cardinal walks also helped the cause. Davis had an RBI blooper to right, Datta and Logan Mathias drew bases loaded walks and Jake Goldberg legged out an infield single to make the score 8-4 Yellowjackets.
 
Two walks and another error plated a run for the Cardinals in the bottom of the inning, but Beckley came in and settled the 'Jackets down, getting two ground outs and a strikeout out to limit the damage.
 
After the Yellowjackets went down 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth, Del Vecchio came in to close things out. The sophomore got two quick outs before yielding a double. The next batter reached on an error, bringing the tying run to the plate. Del Vecchio closed out the win though, getting a ground out to second.
 
It ended up being a sloppy win for the Yellowjackets, one that included five errors, baserunning blunders and 13 men being left on base.
 
The 'Jackets continue their spring break trip on Wednesday afternoon playing against Wheaton College of Massachusetts at 3:45 p.m. at Lake Myrtle Park.