Walk-Off Single Ends Golden Knights Season, 7-6

Ithaca, NY – With four runs in the bottom of the ninth, University of Rochester ended the Clarkson University Baseball team's season, sending the Golden Knights home from the Liberty League Tournament after a 7-6 loss in day two's second elimination game at Ithaca College's Freeman Field.

The Golden Knights saw their season come to a conclusion with a record of 12-19 overall, while Rochester improved to 31-10.

The third game of the tournament for each team, both Clarkson and Rochester were surprisingly quiet offensively for the first few frames. The Knights had base hits in the second, fifth, and sixth innings, but were unable to push any runs across. Rochester was stymied by Golden Knight starter Glenn Stever, as the senior righty completely shut down the Yellowjackets offense through the first five innings, not giving up a single hit. That would change in the sixth, however, as Joe Rende opened the inning with a double to end the no-hit bid. After a hit by pitch and a sac bunt, runners were on second and third for Aaron Whitley, and he hit a sacrifice fly to deep center to put Rochester up 1-0. On the next play, a wild pitch allowed another runner to score, as the Yellowjackets picked up two runs in the frame with the benefit of just the lead-off hit.

Clarkson responded by scoring more runs than it had hits in the top of the seventh, plating six in the inning with just four hits. Cam Jerrett led off with a walk and Michael Tito singled to left to put runners on first and second. After a Caleb Doyle sac bunt pushed both runners into scoring position, Kent Wilson doubled off the bottom of the wall in left to score two to tie the game. Colby Brouillette was then walked intentionally, and the Knights loaded the bases as Mike Nee reached on a fielder's choice when a throw from the shortstop was side in an attempt to nab Wilson at third. Joe Pagano ripped a hit to right to score two and ended up all the way on third on an error as the bases were cleared to give Clarkson a 5-2 lead. Two batters later, Sean Gill tapped a single to third on a check-swing to score Pagano for Clarkson's sixth run of the inning.

Rochester's offense continued to stir in the bottom of the seventh as Josh Leadem led off with a homer to left to put the score at 6-3, chasing Stever from the game after a fine outing in which he allowed only two hits in six-plus innings.

Rochester again threatened in the eighth, but Mateo Sarabia, Kyle Locklear, and Griffin Tubbs were each able to register an out to escape the jam. However, the Yellowjackets would walk it off in the ninth. With one out and the bases loaded, Brian McKinsey doubled to left-center to plate three runs and then a single to right from Harper Sy scored McKinsey to end the game.

Joe Pagano finished the game going 3-for-4 with two RBI and Kent Wilson drove in two for the Knights with a double. For Rochester, Brian McKinsey had two hits and drove in three and Joe Rende was 3-for-3 with two runs scored.

Print Friendly Version