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Rochester, NY – As has been the case in several games between the two teams over the last few years, the final at bat is more than a formality with University of Rochester taking a pair of one-run wins against the Clarkson University Baseball team (11-10, 4-3) on Friday afternoon.
The Golden Knights saw their record fall to 6-5 overall and 0-2 in Liberty League games, while Rochester edged over .500 at 7-6 and 2-0. The two teams will close out the three-game set with a nine-inning contest starting at 10:00 am on Saturday, due to some expected inclement weather in the afternoon.
Rochester opened up the game one scoring with four runs in the bottom of the third, thanks to a leadoff home run from Colby Cruser and then a two-run shot by Luke Gregory as well as an RBI single from Matt Rieth. The Golden Knights responded with two in the top half of the next frame with run-scoring hits from Christopher Griggs and Beau Vardion.
It appeared as if the Yellowjackets would run away with the game late, picking up a run on an RBI groundout in the fourth and another run in the sixth on a failed pickoff attempt. In the seventh, Alexander Gonzolo and Luke Gregory each singled in runs to put the tally at 8-2. Clarkson scratched one run across in the eighth when Aidan Kuefner scored on a double play, but it appeared too little too late for the Knights.
That would change in the top of the ninth when Clarkson strung together numerous baserunners to push seven runs across. Jackson Waters delivered a two-run double and then scored on a Kuefner single to get Clarkson within two. Joe Figliolino then walked to load the bases, setting up Cam Jerrett’s infield single to draw the Knights to 8-7. Griggs walked with the bases loaded to tie the game, James Mason singled in another run, and CJ Cartier poked a ball to the outfield for a sacrifice fly, putting Clarkson up 10-8.
Unfortunately for the Knights, Rochester wasn’t done either. After a pair of outs, the Yellowjackets stayed alive with a walk to Gonzalo. Gregory followed with a single to put a runner in scoring position, and Sammy Smith singled through the right side to make it 10-0. Pinch-hitter Ethan Jaquette singled again to tie the score at 10-10. In the bottom of the 10th, Sammy Besztery reached on a fielder’s choice as his shot to short was enough to get Jackson Reed across the plate for the game-winning run.
Seth Albert, Kuefner, and Vardion each had two hits for the Knights, and Griggs drove in two runs. Figliolino also reached three times with a hit and two walks to score twice. For Rochester, Josh Leadem had three hits and Luke Gregory struck for three hits, driving in three and scoring twice.
Game two saw the Knights push two runs across in teh top of the first thanks to an error that sent Clarkson players racing around the bags. Kuefner singled and stole second and Figliolino reached on a hit by pitch before both moved up a base on a wild pitch. Cam Jerrett then reached on an error as both Kuefner and Figliolino scored, with Jerretty going all the way to third.
Rochester scored twice with two outs in the third, loading the bases with two hits and a walk. Besztery then forced a run home when he was hit by a pitch, and Gonzalo did the same drawing a bases loaded walk. Two more scored for the Yellowjackets in the fourth. A one-out triple by Rieth started things off and was immediately followed by a single from Ben Garber, who then later scored on a single by Colby Cruser.
The Knights would get a run back in the top of the fifth thanks to a Figliolino single that plated Seth Albert. After plenty of late scoring in the first contest, fans would have thought that might be the same, but each team was relatively quiet in the waning innings. That was especially true for Clarkson, when Cruser came on in relief for the final two frames, retiring all six of the hitters he faced, five via swinging strikeouts.
The two teams combined for just 11 hits in game two. Cole Riskin took the loss for the Knights, striking out five in six innings and giving up six hits. Sunil Lindsay went for five innings to gain the win and Cruser earned the save.