ROME, NY (April 11, 2009) - The Utica College baseball team's losing streak extended to seven games after two losses to nationally-ranked No. 27 Ithaca College Saturday at Delutis Field in Rome, NY. The Pioneers dropped game one 3-1, after surrendering two runs in the top of the seventh inning. For the second straight day game one was knotted at 1-1 headed into the top of the seventh inning. Utica battled hard in game two, after falling behind 9-0 over the course of the first three innings. UC scored the game's final four runs but it was not enough as the Bombers completed the four-game conference sweep. Sophomore second baseman Chris Hine went 3-for-6 at the plate with two runs scored and one RBI on the day.
With the loss the Pioneers drop to 2-13 overall and 0-6 in Empire 8 play. Ithaca improves to 18-5 on the season and boasts a 9-1 record in the E8, which ranks them first in the conference.
The Bombers jumped out to a 1-0 lead early in the first inning of the first game on a groundout that scored a runner from third. The scoring came to a halt as starting pitcher Mike Sadallah found his rhythm in the second inning. After allowing the first inning run, Sadallah sat down the next five batters and allowed only three hits and no runs in his next five innings pitched. Utica College got on the board in the fifth inning to tie the game 1-1 on an Anthony DiSalvo single that scored Chris Hine from second. The game proceeded to take a turn for the worse in the seventh inning when the Bombers rattled off three hits and scored two runs to take a 3-1 lead on the Pioneers. UC tried to rally in the bottom of the inning, but fell short leaving two men stranded on base.
Chris Hine led the way for the Pioneers offensively going 2-for-3 from the dish and scoring once. Anthony DiSalvo went 1-for-2 and tallied UC's only RBI of the game. Mike Sadallah pitched a solid game for the Pioneers allowing just seven hits and two earned runs (three total runs) while striking out five batters in 6.2 innings.
The Pioneers struggles continued in the second game of the doubleheader on Saturday, despite a late comeback attempt. The Bombers jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the first three innings of play. Starting pitcher Sean Fisher allowed five runs on three hits and three walks in 2.1 innings pitched. Pitchers Joe Hillman and Cory Gogola each allowed two runs in relief prior to Mark Shields' three shutout innings of work to end the game and help the Pioneers attempt a comeback. In the fourth inning UC scored on back-to-back hits by Chris Hine and Mike Clark. The comeback continued in the sixth inning on RBI singles by Anthony DiSalvo and Mike Clark. The Pioneers were able to pull within five runs, but the comeback ended there. Ithaca closed out the seventh inning without allowing another run.
Clark led the way for UC going 2-for-3 from the plate with two RBIs while Anthony DiSalvo pitched in with two hits in three at-bats with one RBI and one run scored. Mike Shields pitched three shutout innings and allowed only three hits to finish out the game for the Pioneers.
Utica College returns to action on Tuesday, April 14 in a non conference game at Hamilton College. The opening pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
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