The Middlebury baseball team (30-12) downed host University of Rochester 10-5 in the first game of the NCAA Tournament on Friday afternoon. The Panthers take on #1 Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. with the winner advancing to the regional final on Sunday. The Yellowjackets (31-12) face Swarthmore at 11:00 a.m. in an elimination game, with the winner taking on the loser of Middlebury's contest with a trip to the regional final on the line. All games are taking place on Towers Field within the River Campus Sports Complex. 
 
The Panthers are making their second appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and the first since 2006. Rochester is in the playoffs for the third-straight year and sixth time overall. 
 
The Yellowjackets wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, making it 1-0 in the bottom of the first. Aaron Whitney led off with a single through the left side, stole second and later touched home on a throwing error.
 
With two outs in the top of the second, Middlebury's Sammy Smith singled through the left side and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Andrew Ashley singled to right field and advanced to second on a fielding error, as Smith scampered home on the same play to knot the game 1-1. A single up the middle by Nathan Samii drove in Smith to give the Panthers a 2-1 edge.
 
In its half of the inning, Rochester's John Moses doubled to left field, before Dan Tirabassi blasted a homer to left to put the Yellowjackets back on top, 3-2. 
 
The Panthers threatened in the third when John Collins walked and advanced to third on a single by Jack Stolper, but Rochester worked itself out of the jam to keep the one-run lead intact. 
 
Middlebury made some thunder in the top of the fifth inning. Beau Root reached on an error and stole second, before Alec Ritch walked. Collins singled to right field to bring Root home to make it 3-3. Stolper walked next, forcing a pitching change for the Yellowjackets with two outs. Ritch took advantage of a wild pitch on the following play, crossing home plate to give the Panthers a one-run edge (4-3). Chris Borter walked, before a two-run triple to right center by Smith drove in both Stolper and Borter for the 6-3 cushion.
 
Collins led off the top of the seventh with a triple down the left-field line. Stolper walked before a single by Smith brought home Collins for the 7-3 lead. The Panthers looked to increase the score with runners on first and second, but Rochester used a double play to end the inning and avoid further damage. 
 
The Yellowjackets cut the deficit to 7-5 in the bottom of the eighth. With two outs on the board, Luke Piontek walked before Joseph Rende smacked a home run to right field to put the hosts within striking distance. George Goldstein came in for the Panthers to relieve Cole Crider, breaking a school record with his 50th career appearance. Jacob Matzat and Moses hit back-to-back singles, before Colby Cruser stepped up to the plate as a pinch hitter with the tying run on base, but he struck out swinging. 
 
In the top of the ninth, Middlebury blew the game open. Ritch was hit by a pitch, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout. Stolper blasted his sixth homer of the season to center field, giving Middlebury a 9-5 cushion. Borter followed with a double to right center and advanced to third on a single from Smith, before crossing home on a base hit by Ashley for the 10-5 advantage. 
 
Goldstein retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth to secure the victory.
 
Alex Price (5-2) earned the win on the mound, throwing 119 pitches. He did not a allow a walk during his six innings of work and struck out seven batters. Price moves into sole possession of the Panthers' single-season strikeout record, eclipsing the old mark (79) with 82 this spring. Goldstein, Middlebury's career leader in saves, earned his sixth of the season and 12th overall. Nolan Sparks (6-2) suffered the loss for Rochester, giving up five runs on five hits over 4.2 innings.
 
Smith paced the Panthers at the plate, going 4-5 with a run scored and three RBI. He also had a triple during the game, tying the school record with five on the season. Collins had a pair of hits, tying him for fifth on Middlebury's single-season list with 55 this year. He also scored once, blasted a triple and had an RBI. Stolper was 2-3 at the plate with a pair of walks, scored twiceand had two RBI along with a homer. Ashley had one run on two hits with two RBI. 
 
Whitley went 4-5 for the Yellowjackets, while Rende had one run on two hits with a homer and a pair of RBI. Tirabassi had one run on one hit with two RBI, while Moses had a pair of hits and a double.