The New York Univeristy baseball team's comeback bid fell short in its University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship opener. The Violets were defeated by the University of Rochester 12-8 at the Sanford Memorial Stadium in Sanford, FL, on Sunday evening, March 6.
"We need to concentrate harder in key situtations during the game," said NYU Head Coach Doug Kimbler. "We have to work harded in batting practice so that we can better make in-game adjustments."NYU (2-4, 0-1 UAA) fell behind 8-1 through five and a half innings thanks to a flurry of errors, but was eventually able to trim the Yellowjackets' (1-0, 1-0 UAA) lead to four with a three-run outburst in the bottom of the sixth.
Jake Smith led off the inning for NYU with a walk and was able to move into scoring position courtesy of a wild pitch. Then, with Smith at third and
Colman Hendershot at first following a one-out single,
CJ Picerni knocked an RBI-single through the left side to start the scoring. The very next at-bat,
Jonathan Iaione hit a single to right to plate Hendershot. The Yellowjackets' rightfielder's throw home was botched and Picerni was also able to score on the play.
Rochester jumped ahead by eight at 12-4, its largest lead of the game, after a two-run eighth and a two-run ninth.
The Violets countered and exploded for four more runs in the home half of the ninth inning, but were unable to overcome the deficit.
NYU's offense began in a bases-loaded, two-out situation. Rochester's pitcher threw a wild pitch, which allowed
Michael Vokulich to score from third. Then, after Smith walked to load the bases again, Hendershot smacked a two-run double down the rightfield line to plate
Jack Walter and
Ryan McLaughlin.
Adrian Spitz followed with an infield single to third and notched an RBI as Smith crossed the plate on the play.
HIGHLIGHTS:- Hendershot finished 2-for-5 with two RBIs, one run scored and a double.
- Vokulich was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
- Smith was 0-for-2, but walked twice and was hit by a pitch. The sophomore shortstop scored two runs.
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Cameron Serapilio-Frank took the loss for NYU. The sophomore righthander tossed 5.2 innings and gave up seven runs (two earned) on six hits with a walk and a strikeout.
The Violets will be back at it tomorrow afternoon, Monday, March 7, as they face Brandeis University at Sandord Memorial Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm.
