Reed, Reina Hit Milestones in Rochester Sweep of Union

SCHENECTADY, NY – The University of Rochester baseball team posted a Liberty League doubleheader sweep of Union College on Sunday afternoon, and in the process picked up two major program milestones.

Rochester took game one by a 6-3 score and then followed that up with a 9-3 victory in game two, improving its record to 12-10 overall and 7-4 in the Liberty League. The host Garnet Chargers fall to 16-11 and 4-5 in the Liberty League.

Both milestones came in game one, with graduate student Jackson Reed becoming the Rochester all-time hits leader, surpassing the mark of 201 hits, set by Andy Cannon back in 2010. After the final out was caught, head coach Joe Reina secured his 500th career victory as a collegiate head coach, all coming with Rochester.

Game 1: Rochester 6, Union 3
It was a fast start for Rochester in game one, with Reed singling up the middle on the second pitch of the game. After stealing second and a walk put a pair of runners on, Josh Leadem sacrificed the runners up a base, leading to an RBI groundout from Alexander Gonzalo to put the Yellowjackets up 1-0 in the first.

Union was able to push across two in the bottom half of the inning though, both coming on an Andrew Keaveney 2-out double to left center.

Rochester responded right away and grabbed the lead in the second, scoring twice. After Luke Gregoryreached via walk, Sammy Smith reached on a bunt single and moved up two bases when the ball was thrown away. That play also allowed Gregory to come all the way around to score and tie the game. Two batters later, Reed tied the hits record and gave the ‘Jackets the lead with an RBI double to left center.

In the fourth, the Yellowjackets tacked on three more runs, boosting their lead to 6-2. Gregory led off with a double, and two batters later, was brought in by a Luke Blozy single, the first of three straight hits by the Yellowjackets. Reed singled in the streak of three straight, getting the hits record alone with his third hit in as many at-bats to start the game.

Leadem provided a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded and during the next at-bat, a failed pickoff attempt was thrown away, allowing Reed to score.

Union would complete the game scoring in the bottom of the fifth when AJ Cutler provided a 2-out double to left, scoring Dylan Swarts.

That run chased UR starter Sunil Lindsay from the game, ending the first-year’s bid for a victory by just one out. Lindsay finished at 4.2 innings, allowing 5 hits, 3 runs and 2 walks while striking out 4.

Colby Cruser came in from his DH spot to relieve Lindsay and finished off the game in remarkable fashion, allowing just two hits and no runs over 4.1 innings. He walked none and struck out five in picking up the victory.

For the game, Reed finished 3-for-5 with a pair of runs and an RBI. Sammy Besztery went 2-for-4 and stole a base, while Gregory was 1-for-2, scored two runs and added a pair of walks.

Game 2: Rochester 9, Union 3
A nine-run flurry over the fifth, sixth and seventh innings allowed the Yellowjackets to seize control of game two, earning their third straight conference win over the weekend.

The game was scoreless until the Garnet Chargers struck for a single run in the bottom of the fourth against starter Mark Aaronson. The run scored on a Cutler sacrifice fly, and was aided a base by a UR error, making the run unearned.

Rochester took the lead shortly after, notching two runs in the top of the fifth. Benjamin Garber and Gregory posted back-to-back singles to lead off the inning and moved up to second and third on a wild pitch.

UR’s Smith provided an RBI ground out to tie the game, and two batters later, Reed single to center, putting Rochester up 2-1 on the scoreboard.

In the fifth, Aaronson got two strikeouts to start the inning, but allowed a single before escaping the inning. Again, a throwing error allowed the runner to move up a base, with that play making a difference, as Caleb Miller singled up the middle to drive in the run and pull Union even, at 2-2.

UR regained an advantage in the next inning, getting an RBI single from Gonzalo and a 2-run double from Smith. Leadem led off the frame with a single to center and promptly stole second and third base, adding to his all-time UR record total. Gonzalo ripped a hit to put UR back in front and a few batters later, Smith found the gap in right to score Gonzalo and Cruser who had drew a walk.

Aaronson got a 1-2-3 shutdown inning in the sixth and put the Yellowjackets right back at-bat. UR used the momentum to tack on four more runs, coming on a pair of 2-run hits from Cruser and Gregory.

Union tacked on an additional run in the seventh off of reliever Matthew Grier, with JT Psirogianes lifting a solo home run to left, but that was the last of the scoring, as the Garnet Chargers could muster just two hits the rest of the way.

Aaronson pitched 6 innings and allowed 5 hits and 2 unearned runs, striking out 5 and walking just 1, earning the victory. Grier recorded two outs, with Matt Casiero closing out the game, getting the final seven outs out of the ‘Jacket bullpen.

The middle of the UR order did most of the damage as Leadem, Gonzalo and Cruser, the 3-4-5 hitters in the lineup each finished with two hits and two runs scored. Smith drove in three runs and Gregory added two hits and two RBI in a solid doubleheader.

Rochester’s next games are set for next weekend against Liberty League foe Ithaca College. UR hosts the Bombers on Friday afternoon before closing out the series with a doubleheader at Ithaca on Saturday.