Baseball | 4/27/2014 4:55:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT baseball team (16-12, 11-7 Liberty League) continued its push for a Liberty League playoff berth by splitting a doubleheader against foe Clarkson (15-11, 10-7 Liberty League) on a cool, breezy, sunny, Sunday afternoon at Tiger Stadium. RIT is one of seven teams vying for one of the fourth playoff berths that are separated by less than two games.

In game one, RIT never trailed, leading by as many as three, 4-1 in the bottom of the sixth, before Clarkson scored a pair of unearned runs to make it a one-run game.

RIT got on the board first, in the top of the second inning, thanks to the first collegiate home run off the bat of Will Gorman (Nassau, NY/Columbia), a towering blast to right field. Clarkson would tie the game in the bottom half of the inning thanks to a single and stolen base from Dan Lenney and RBI single from Matt Jenack.

The Tigers would retake the lead for good in the third as Ronnie Canestro (East Amherst, NY/Nichols) reached on a fielders choice. An attempted pick off attempt went into the right field corner, as Canestro attempted to go to third. The throw from the right fielder to third base got away, allowing Canestro to trot home with the run.

RIT would add a run in the fifth on a RBI single to right field by Canestro that scored Zach Zabel (Clarence, NY/Clarence), who led off with a single and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and groundout. In the sixth, Phil Sammon (Ridgefield, CT/Ridgefield) and Gorman singled, giving the Tigers runners on first and third with one out. Gorman attempted to steal second and did just that, with the throw sailing into center field, scoring Sammon to make it 4-1 Tigers.

Clarkson would get two runs back in the sixth, as with two outs, a ground ball by Tim Beninati went right through the legs of Sammon at third, allowing a pair of runs to score, making it a 4-3 game.

In the seventh, RIT tried to add to its lead, but had a pair of runners thrown out at home plate, as Chris Barr (North Wales, PA/North Penn ) was gunned down on a hard grounder to shortstop and two batters later, Canestro, from second on a single to center field.

In the bottom of the inning, Tyler Leichtenberger (Warren, PA/Warren Area) closed the door on Clarkson for his fifth save of the season and 13th of his RIT career. He pitched the final 1 2/3 innings, striking out one batter. Sophomore Rory Little (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) earned his third win of the season, allowing seven hits and one earned run over the first 5 1/3 innings, striking out four batters.

Sammon was 3-for-4 with a run scored, while Canestro and Gorman each had two hits, a run scored, and run driven in.

Jarrod Mattingly took the loss for Clarkson, allowing eight hits and four runs (three earned) over six innings. Lenney was 3-for-3 with a pair of runs scored, while Nolan Driscoll was 2-for-3 with a double and run scored.

In game two, Clarkson starter Pete Roma was tremendous, allowing just seven hits and one run in a 104-pitch, nine-inning complete-game. Roma let his defense do the work, as he did not strike out a batter, getting 12 groundouts and 12 flyouts, with a double play, and two RIT runners caught stealing.

RIT took a 1-0 lead on a great at-bat from Taylor Hogan (Rochester, NY/Brighton), who followed several tough pitches before singling in Zabel from third in the third inning. Clarkson would chip away however and get one in the fourth, two in the seventh, and one in the eighth.

All nine Clarkson starters had at least one, as Chris Miller led the way by going 2-for-4 with a run scored and driven in.

Zabel was 3-for-3 with a stolen base for the Tigers. On the mound, Michael Burns (Rochester, NY/Rush-Henrietta) got the start, throwing 3 1/3 innings before Leichtenberger took over. Leichtenberger would be saddled with the loss, allowing seven hits and three runs in 4 2/3 innings of relief.

RIT leads the all-time series between the two schools, 48-35-1. Yesterday, rain forced the two teams to play just one single contest, as Clarkson took that, 4-1.

 The Tigers are back in action on Tuesday with a doubleheader at regionally-ranked Oswego that gets underway at 2 p.m.