ITHACA, N.Y. -- The #18 baseball team (20-5-1) lost for the first time in nine games, dropping a 7-5 decision to Rochester (8-17) Tuesday at Freeman Field. The Bombers return to action Saturday with an Empire 8 weekend series at St. John Fisher.

The Bombers took a 5-2 lead into the seventh before the Yellow Jackets, who had dropped 12 of their previous 16, scored five runs over the seventh and eighth innings. Rochester used just two hits in those two innings, putting together three-run eighth-inning rally without the benefit of a hit, stringing together a walk, two hit batters, a dropped fly ball in the outfield and a passed ball.

Senior second baseman Matt Keller led the Bomber offense with a pair of run-scoring doubles. He opened the scoring with his 12th double of the year, driving home sophomore shortstop Tim Henry – who'd led off by reaching on an infield throwing error – and breaking a 2-2 tie in the fifth with a two-run double. Senior Teagen Barresi, making his first start of the season at third base, followed Keller's fifth-inning double with an RBI single.

Sophomore catcher Corey Caswell added a pair of hits and scored a pair of runs.

Freshman Andrew Sanders made his first career start and allowed just one earned run over his personal-high six-inning stint. He fanned a career-best four batters, issuing just one walk.

The Bombers return to action Saturday with an Empire 8 weekend series at St. John Fisher.

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