The Hobart baseball team suffered a 6-2 series opening loss to Rochester this afternoon at McDonough Park. The Statesmen slip to 11-5 overall, 2-2 in the Liberty League, while the Yellowjackets improve to 8-7, 3-1.
Rochester got a strong start from senior Sammy Rosenfield, who allowed only one hit, struck out 10 and walked four in six scoreless innings. The top of the Yellowjackets order did most of the damage at the plate, with the first four hitters each collecting two hits and scoring a run.
Hobart starter, junior Teck Nash got through five innings, giving up five runs (three earned) while striking out two and walking two. Junior Will Jones was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
BUZZING EARLY
In the top of the first, the leadoff batter reached on an error followed by a double for senior Colby Cruser. Graduate student Josh Leadum singled down the right field line to score the first run. Then, with runners on the corners, Rochester executed a double steal to make it 2-0. Alexander Gonzalo’s sacrifice fly brought home a third run before Nash was able to work out of the jam.
UR added a single run in the second, third and sixth innings to stretch its lead.
Meanwhile, Rosenfield retired the Statesmen in order in the first, third, fourth and fifth. He worked into and out of trouble in the second. After striking out the first two batters, he loaded the bases with three straight walks before getting the third out with another strikeout.
Jones broke up Rosenfield’s no-hit bid with two outs in the sixth.
Hobart got both of its runs in the bottom of the eight. Sophomore Jack Byrnes drew a lead off walk and moved to second on a ground out. He took third and scored on a wild pitches. Later, Jones delivered a two-out RBI single to left.
Cruser pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to wrap up the victory.
LET’S PLAY TWO
Hobart and Rochester will play a doubleheader tomorrow at the Yellowjackets’ Towers Field beginning at 1 p.m.
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