Box Score Box Score

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Powered by a six-run effort in the fourth inning, the University of Rochester baseball team rallied past Rensselaer and never looked back enroute to a 12-8 Liberty League victory on Sunday evening.  The Yellowjackets move to 10-14 overall and 5-6 in conference play, while the Engineers slip to 13-9 on the season with a 6-3 Liberty League mark.

The Engineers opened up a 2-0 lead in the first inning as sophomore Tanner Boucher send a home run over the centerfield wall.  RPI was able to later add to its advantage in the top of the fourth as Jonny Rio homered to left, but the Yellowjackets quickly struck back.

Junior Alex Cagan led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo shot to right.  The home team quickly put two runners on and Ethan Sander capitalized with a single to drive in another run.  Following a two-run double off the bad of rookie Nate Mulberg, classmate Dom Caruso added another double down the left field line to score Mulberg and give the Yellowjackets a 6-3 advantage.

Rochester continued their offensive effort in the bottom of the fifth, scoring a pair of runs, including a run-scoring single off the bat of Sander.

Rensselaer closed the gap to two (8-6) in the top of the sixth inning as senior Billy Nikolski sent a two-run single to right, but the home team kept pace with a run in the latter inning for a 9-6 advantage.

With the Yellowjackets holding a 10-6 lead, the Engineers continued to battle as junior Kyle Kopacz singled in a run and another scored to cut the deficit to two (10-8), but it wasn't enough as Rochester scored a pair in the latter half of the inning for the final margin.

Leading the offensive front for the Yellowjackets was Sander, who was 3 for 4 with a run scored and three runs batted in.  Five other batters notched hits, including a 2 for 4, three runs scored effort by Caghan.

Senior Nick Cacciola picked up the win, allowing six runs on seven hits over 6.0 innings.  He also struck out five and walked two.

For the Engineers, Rio was 3 for 5 with three runs scored and two runs batted in.  Boucher was 2 for 4 and also had three runs scored and two RBI.  On the mound, senior Mike Cieszko suffered the loss, allowing nine runs (5 earned) on nine hits over 6.0 innings.  He struck out eight batters and surrendered just two walks.

The teams will meet again on Monday in Rochester, playing two seven-inning games.  Action starts at 12pm.