POTSDAM, NY – Host Clarkson University used a stellar pitching performance from starter Jacob Shirley to earn an 8-1 Liberty League West Division victory on Friday afternoon at Snell Field at Jack Phillips Stadium.
Shirley ended up tossing a 9-inning complete game, holding the Yellowjackets to seven hits and one unearned run, while striking out nine batters in what is his fourth win of the 2026 season.
After sitting down just 1-0 through four and a half innings, the Yellowjackets (10-16, 3-10 Liberty League) surrendered four runs in the bottom of the fifth to the Golden Knights (16-10, 7-6 Liberty League), breaking the game open.
URochester was able to scrape a run across in the eight, avoiding the shutout, but Clarkson regained that momentum back quicky, plating three runs in the bottom of the frame.
Andrew Lenhard suffered the loss for the Yellowjackets, going four innings on the mound while giving up just three hits and one unearned run. He walked one and struck out one in the outing.
Theo Beckley went one inning in relief and
Aidan Watts finished off the contest by throwing three frames, striking out two.
The Golden Knights started the scoring in the third inning off a wild throw from Lenhard on a pickoff attempt towards second. After the ball got away in the outfield, Clarkson's Aidan Kuefner scored to make it 1-0 for the home team.
In the fifth, three straight one-out hits by Clarkson boosted the lead. James Mason doubled to left scoring two runs. The next hitter reached on an error to add another run, with Beau Vardion making it 5-0 with an RBI single.
The Yellowjacket run in the eighth inning came thanks to an error by the Golden Knights. After
Carlos Barajas reached on a 2-out double, he came around to score after a
Teddy Monahan grounder to second was booted by the defense.
Clarkson responded right away though, benefitting from a URochester error to score two runs in the bottom half of the inning, tacking on one more with a hit batter with the bases loaded.
Shirley pitched around a 1-out single by
Jake Goldberg in the ninth to finish off the complete game win.
Barajas was the lone UR player to have multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored.
Logan Mathias also reached twice, going 1-for-3 and added a walk.
Mason had three RBI for Clarkson, while Nolan Merrow and Beau Vardion each finished with two hits, including a double.
The same two teams meet up on Saturday for a doubleheader starting at noon.
