The rainy weather washed away more than half of the baseball team’s games this week, but the doubleheader that was played allowed the ‘Jackets to improve their standings.
The Yellowjackets improved their record to 3-1 in the Liberty League standings and 8-5 overall. The ‘Jackets are tied for first with Skidmore College in the Liberty League with a .750 winning percentage, but have played two fewer league games in league play because of the soggy weather.
The team was able to get in a doubleheader against Clarkson University at home on Saturday. In the first game, sophomore Blair Veenema got the start. Veenema struggled in the first, giving up two doubles and two singles and allowing three earned runs. Veenema took control after that, striking out the next two batters and picking off a runner at third base for the third out. He finished the game with a complete game – seven innings – scattering six hits over the final six innings and striking out seven after settling down following the first.
A comeback was in the works, however, as Veenema was picked up by his offense. The ‘Jackets got on the board in the fifth with junior Dave Kloc leading off the inning with a single and taking second on a wild pitch. Junior Ed Kahovec got the RBI with a single. Junior Jim Bard led off the sixth inning with a double and got to third on a sacrifice bunt. Bard then scored on an error by Clarkson, bringing the ‘Jackets within a run. In the bottom of the seventh, junior Devin Shane won the game with a two-run walk off single. The final score was 4-3.
In the second game of the doubleheader, the offense came alive, benefiting from many fielding miscues by Clarkson. Freshman Blayne Fuke reached on an error to lead off the bottom of the first. Kahovec followed with a single and sophomore Dan Brien loaded the bases by taking a walk. Junior Jay Jay Vanderstyne drove in the first run of the game with a single, scoring Fuke. The ‘Jackets were not through there, however, as Shane drove in another on a sac fly to center. After another error put Brien on third base, senior Frank Infurna drove in the third run of the inning with a sac fly to right.
Freshman Andy Cannon started off the second inning with a single and advanced to third on a single by Fuke. With one out, Brien then doubled, driving in both Cannon and Fuke. The ‘Jackets led, 5-0, after two innings. The offensive onslaught continued in the third inning. Infurna and Kloc both singled to start the inning. Cannon then reached on an error while attempting a sac bunt. After a strikeout, Kahovec doubled to bring in Infurna and Kloc. Brien then followed with a single, driving in another and was able to advance to second on the throw to the plate. Cannon then scored an unearned run on another Clarkson error, making the score 8-0.
Clarkson would not go quietly, however, finally breaking through against junior pitcher Pete McEneaney in the fourth. McEneaney gave up three runs on four hits, but was able to have two stranded runners at the end of the inning. The ‘Jackets responded with two more in the fifth to bring their total to 10, with some extra help from two more errors by Clarkson. Bard forced in a run with a bases-loaded walk, scoring Kahovec. Infurna notched an RBI when he was hit by a pitch the following at bat.
Clarkson added one more run in the ninth inning, scoring on two hits off of junior John Fishback, but it was too little too late, as the ‘Jackets won the game, 10-4. While the Clarkson team had five errors in the game to help some of the scoring, credit Rochester for taking advantage of those mistakes. The loss kept Clarkson winless on the season, 0-10.
A second doubleheader was attempted on Sunday with Clarkson before the rains came. Senior Brady Noon started for Rochester and pitched 1.2 innings, giving up two hits, a walk and a run before the downpour. This week, the Yellowjackets will take on St. John Fisher College at their field on Wednesday and have two doubleheaders over the weekend in Schenectady, N.Y. against Union College.
Goff is a member of the class of 2008.
