WINTER HAVEN, FL. – With five different batters on the board, the Wesleyan University baseball team could not overcome a four-run advancement in the eighth inning as the University of Rochester secured the 8-5 defeat at Chain of Lakes on Tuesday afternoon as the Spring Break play continues in central Florida.

The Yellow Jackets (5-1 overall) jumped to a one-run lead at the top of the game, scoring on a single out to Marcus Jang '26 in left field. Rebounding through a quick second inning, the Cardinals (0-4 overall) tied the game up at one and took a short lead in the third. Jang was the first home, doubling down the line before scoring on an error at third base. Sebastian Ortiz '28, the batter at the plate on the third base error, reached second on the play and snagged home on a sacrificed bunt by William Moore '26.

Tying the game up at two late in the following inning, the Jackets put up two more runs in the fifth as they secured a two-run lead over the Cardinals. Still in contention, the Cardinals loaded the bases again in the sixth, tying the game at four. Following a pitching change for the Jackets, Sam Hensinger '26 walked and hit third base due to an error at the mound. With Jonah Timmons '27 on base, James Marsden's '26 ball to second base pushed Hensinger home. A fielder's choice for Jang gave Hensinger room to score the tying run.

With the eighth inning underway, the Jackets ran four runs in, forcing a second pitching change for the Cardinals for the inning. Two walks at the bottom of the inning gave way to Jake Acker '27 scoring on another error with Jang at the plate.

Ben Bryant '29 pitched the first four innings for the Cardinals, marking two strikeouts with three earned runs and two hits. Braeden Falzarano '27 takes the loss, facing four batters and allowed four earned runs.

The Cardinals return to action on Wednesday, March 11, when they face Suffolk in Davenport, FL, at 7:45 p.m.