The University of Rochester (4–6) baseball team had a long, tiring week of play. They started off getting shut out by St. John Fisher College 10–0 and then split both doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday.
In the loss to St. John Fisher, the Yellowjackets were able to muster up six hits but did not capitalize on some key opportunities with runners on base. Senior third baseman Pete Carrier was the standout player on offense, going two for four. Freshman starting pitcher Garrett Renslow also had a solid day, giving up only one hit and one walk in two innings of work. However, relief pitcher Tyler Pauly ended up with the loss, surrendering four runs (two earned) in two thirds of an inning. In relief, sophomore Tyler McConway was superb, giving up only one hit in two innings.
On Saturday, UR defeated the Clarkson Golden Knights 15–8 in the first game of a split doubleheader. Freshman left fielder Jake Hertz went three for five and came around to score each time he reached base. Meanwhile third baseman Jack Herman and catcher David Rieth went a combined six for nine with a resounding 11 RBI. This could certainly bolster playing time for the sophomore and freshman, respectively. Once more, relief pitcher McConway shined, giving one ER in four and a third innings, pitching in both games of the doubleheader against Clarkson.
UR Baseball split another doubleheader on Sunday against Clarkson. In the first game, Rochester won 5–1, behind the strong play of sophomore first baseman Aiden Finch, who went two for three with two RBI. Starting pitcher sophomore Jack Denzer was dazzling, pitching seven innings with one ER and seven hits, bringing his season record to 1–2 with a 4.34 ERA. He certainly gave the team the innings they needed on a long day.
On the women’s side, the Yellowjackets (10–4) split a doubleheader against the Ithaca Bombers (7–5). The first game was a close affair, as UR was victorious by a score of 5–3. Sophomore first baseman Rachel Pletz came up huge with a monster two-run homerun to bring her season average to .326. Freshman third baseman Lydia Petricca also went two for three with a double and an RBI. On the mound, senior Eleni Wechsler went the distance with seven innings pitched, three ER, and seven hits. The five strikeouts bring the senior’s strikeout total to 36 on the season, and she is enjoying a 1.20 ERA.
The second game of the doubleheader was less successful for the women, as they lost 5–1. The offense could only muster three hits from the top three spots in the lineup (catcher Harleigh Kaczegowicz, left fielder Shelby Corning, and Petricca). The bottom two-thirds of the lineup went a combined zero for 16. On defense, the theme of the day was errors costing the team runs on the board. Despite senior pitcher Sam Malecki turning in a phenomenal performance (5.2 IP, 0 ER, 7 hits), the defense could not back her up, coughing up five runs with her on the mound. This performance brought Malecki’s season ERA down to 1.69 and her record to 3–3, as she took the loss. Weschsler finished off the game, fanning three batters in an inning and a third.
On Tuesday, the baseball team is looking to succeed in a doubleheader against Vassar College, while UR Softball will play a doubleheader against St. John Fisher.
