The Saints' defense couldn't stop a red-hot Yellowjacket offense, which overwhelmed St. Lawrence for 12 runs. Campus Times Archives.
As many are just starting to notice, it’s spring again in the Liberty League. On a Saturday that was as pleasant in Canton as it was in Rochester, Yellowjackets baseball took on St. Lawrence University in a dynamic afternoon double-header.
Despite a slow offensive start that resulted in a 5-0 loss for the first game, Rochester came back with 17 hits for 12 runs to dominate game two, 12-1. The split brings the men’s record to 6-7.
The Saints struck early in game one, putting up one run in the second inning and then capitalizing on walks to add three more in the fourth. Sophomores Jon Menke and Corey King combined to strike out five hitters in game one, but also gave up eight walks and allowed five runs in a game in which they didn’t receive much offensive support.
It was looking like a slow day for Rochester’s hitting until late in game two. The Yellowjackets struck first this time, with junior Alex Caghan singling in classmate Dom Caruso in the third inning for the yellow and blue’s first run of the day. St. Lawrence answered with a homer to tie the score in the fourth inning, but the game was not close for much longer. Menke, senior Steve Just and freshman Chris Davis all had hits in the fifth andgave the ‘Jackets a 4-1 lead.
The team never looked back. UR added two runs in the seventh off doubles by Just and Davis, but the real damage came in the eighth. Caghan, Menke and Davis capped off their outstanding offensive game spearheading a six-run eighth inning, during which Caghan and Menke singled and Davis hit a grand slam. Just finished the game with three RBIs while Caghan and Menke each added two. Davis swung his way to a career high six RBIs.
However, the offensive spectacle of game two should not take attention from the outstanding pitching freshman Stephen Cool provided for the yellow and blue. Cool pitched a seven inning gem, allowing only three hits for just one run.
The following day, Sunday, April 10, UR split another doubleheader with St. Lawrence, bringing the ‘Jackets to 2-2 in Canton this season.
If you haven’t been paying close attention to UR baseball, don’t be fooled by their 6-7 record. The team can dominate on both sides of the ball and has been out-scored by the negligible margin of 125-122 this season.
Anything can happen the rest of this season. The Yellowjackets have six home games over the next two weeks. So when you’re sitting in the library pretending to study for finals and wishing you were outside, get off Facebook and head down to the baseball diamond to support the home team.
Hospers is a member of
the class of 2014.
