A split for the second straight day ensured the Clarkson University Baseball team will head into the conference tournament as the second seed. Clarkson dropped the opener 4-0 before roaring back with a 9-3 win against Rochester.
Clarkson finishes the regular season 19-16 overall and 14-8 in the Liberty League. Rochester closes out the regular season with a 22-17 mark and a 15-9 conference record. That places the Yellow Jackets in the third seed.
In the first game, both teams had one big inning, but only Rochester was able to capitalize on the opportunity. After three and a half scoreless innings, Rochester scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on three hits and one Clarkson error.
Clarkson's opportunity came in the sixth when three one-out singles by Dom Pirro, Anthony Padrazo, and Will Coleman loaded the bases. However, Rochester made a pitching change and was then able to induce Greg Jasek into an inning-ending double play.
Clarkson bounced back with a win in the second game. The Golden Knights jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings. The runs came on a two-RBI double by Brad Pearson in the first and then a single by Jasek in the second that also drove in two runs.
Rochester got one run back in the fourth on a sacrifice fly, but Pirro led off the fifth with a single, advanced to second on a Connor Martin sacrifice bunt, and then scored on consecutive wild pitches. Martin helped add another Clarkson run in the seventh when he singled to score Chris Miller.
Rochester was not out of the game yet though. The Yellow Jackets notched two runs in the bottom of the seventh and then loaded the bases in the eighth, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate. Joe Rooney was able to get a strikeout and a lineout to prevent any further damage though.
Clarkson added three insurance runs in the top of the ninth. Jasek started the inning with a deep double to center field and Miller followed with a walk. Pearson laid down a sacrifice bunt, but a Rochester error not only allowed Jasek and Miller to score, it also moved Pearson to third. Pearson scored the final run of the game when Martin knocked a single up the middle.
Eddie Miller pitched a complete game in the opener for Clarkson, taking his second loss of the year. He allowed three earned runs on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts. In the second game, Ian Castle made his first start since April 16th and picked up his second win of the year. Castle threw four innings, allowing just one run on one hit with one strikeout. Mike Bubniak pitched the next two and one third innings, giving up one earned run on one hit and two walks. Andrew Smith threw a scoreless two thirds of an inning with two hits allowed. Rooney and Jasek each threw a scoreless frame to close out the game.
