Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Game 1 Box / Game 2 Box

TROY, N.Y. – The University of Rochester baseball team took home a pair of one-run games to complete a four-game sweep of Rensselaer, at Robison Field. Winning 3-2 and 6-5, the Yellow Jackets improve to 18-4 overall, including a perfect 12-0 in Liberty League play. The Engineers fall to 11-9 and 2-6 in the league.

After RPI scored the opening run in the top of the third inning in game one, Rochester answered on an RBI-single off the bat of senior shortstop Nathan Stein (Rochester, NY/Greece Odyssey) in the bottom of the inning.

The Yellow Jackets tacked on single runs in the fifth in sixth innings to take a 3-1 lead. Stein was once again the catalyst, driving in the first run with a double to right. Senior third baseman Blayne Fuke (Kailua, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) came through with the run-scoring single in the sixth.

Rensselaer made a comeback bid in the top of the seventh, as junior Josh Brooks (Lake Katrine, NY/Kingston) drove home freshman Jonny Rio (Maplewood, NJ/Columbia) on a base-hit to center. The Engineers then loaded the bases with two outs in the frame, but Rochester freshman lefty Corey King (Fredonia, NY/Fredonia) was able to strike out Patrick Reardon (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute) to end the game.

Rochester starter Jon Menke (Highland Park, IL/Highland Park) earned his third win of the season surrendering just two runs (1 earned) on five hits in 6.2 innings. He struck out three, while walking two. RPI righthander Dan Duval (Middletown, MA/Masconomet) went 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on 10 hits with two strikeouts.

Game two saw the Engineers jump out to an early 2-0 lead, scoring twice in the top of the third on a wild pitch and a delayed double-steal with one out in the inning. RPI then added a third run in the top of the fifth, to take a brief 3-0 lead, but Rochester answered with one in the bottom of the frame.

Senior first baseman Andrew Krushelnyski (Bloomfield Hills, MI/Brother Rice) led off the sixth with a home run over the right field fence to extend the RPI lead to 4-1.

The Yellow Jackets then came back, scoring three times in the bottom of the seventh inning tie the game and run Rensselaer starter Andrew Mondo (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) from the hill. Receiving a no-decision, Mondo gave up four runs (2 earned) on six hits over 6.1 innings. He struck out two without walking a batter.

Rochester reliever Nick Cacciola (Northport, NY/Northport) pitched a scoreless top of the eighth, allowing the Yellow Jackets to plate two runs in the bottom of the inning to take their first lead of the game. Sophomore Brian Bezek (Rochester, NY/Penfield) delivered an RBI-double, before coming around to score on a Fuke base-hit for a 6-4 lead.

The Engineers once again made a valiant comeback attempt in their final at bat, as they were able to scratch one run across, but Krushelnyski's deep fly to left with runners on second and third was hauled in by Rochester sophomore Alex Caghan (North Canton, OH/Jackson) to end the game.

Cacciola (2-1) earned win, going 3.0 innings, while allowing just three hits with four strikeouts. Bezek finished 3 for 4 with three runs and two RBI in game two, while RPI freshman Sujith Murali (Plainsboro, NJ/W. Windsor South) picked up his first collegiate hit in going 3 for 5 with a double and an RBI.

Rensselaer is back in action on Thursday, when it hosts William Patterson for a non-league affair (3:30pm).