Utica, NY (April 18, 2009) - The Utica College baseball team split a pair of conference games against visiting RIT in Empire 8 action Saturday. With the win, the Pioneers snapped a 23 game conference losing streak dating back to April of 2007. Sophomore shortstop Andrew Diaz ripped a game-winning single in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Pioneers to a 7-6 victory in game one. UC fought hard in game two but fell one run short, dropping a 3-2 decision in the night cap. Sophomore Chris Hine went 4-for-5 on the day with two doubles, two runs scored and two RBIs to pace the Pioneers.
UC is now 4-16 overall and 1-7 in conference play after the split Saturday. UC had been swept by the Tigers for six straight seasons headed into Saturday's double header. RIT, which has lost four of its last six games, is now 11-18 overall and 5-5 in conference play.
In game one the Pioneers jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning behind two RBI doubles from sophomore catcher Jon Meyer and senior utility player Kelvin Carbera. Meyer's double scored Justin Engelhardt, while Cabrera's two-RBI double scored Chris Hine and Jon Meyer.
RIT answered right back in the top half of the second inning by scoring four runs to take a 4-3 lead. After two doubles to open the inning from Kyle Desrosiers and Ed Hughes, freshman Ben Robertson roped a two-RBI single to centerfield to knot the score at 3-3. Before the end of the inning Kraeg Bradley used a sacrifice ground out to score Robertson and give RIT a one run advantage.
Chris Hine doubled for UC in the bottom of the third inning, followed by a Kelvin Cabrera RBI single as the Pioneers tied the score up at 4-4 headed into the fourth inning. After two scoreless innings the Pioneers took a one run lead, 5-4, when Chris Hine doubled home Justin Engelhardt to put Utica in the driver's seat.
The one run lead would not last long as the Tigers put up two in the top half of the seventh to take a 6-5 lead. After Geoff Dornes tripled to open the inning, Jeremy Tosh walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. With two runners in scoring position, UC relief pitcher Mark Shields committed a throwing error, which allowed two runs to score as the Tigers took a one run lead headed into the bottom of the seventh.
Sophomore captain Anthony Disalvo started the game-winning rally with a one out single in the seventh. Freshman pinch hitter John Grogan was then hit by a pitch and junior designated hitter Russ Haentges ripped a single to load the bases. RIT freshman reliever Brad Wright hit his second batter of the inning, forcing one run to score as the Pioneers knotted the contest at 6-6. Sophomore shortstop Andrew Diaz then ripped the game-winning single to left field to give UC its first conference victory in over a year.
Sophomore Chris Pallas pitched 6.1 innings and struck out four for UC, marking his second straight outing against a conference opponent where he pitched into the seventh inning. RIT senior lefthander Chris Miller pitched five full innings for the Tigers and scattered eight eights, while striking out four.
UC outhit RIT 12-9 in game one and seven different players registered at least one hit. Engelhardt went 3-for-4 at the plate and scored two runs, while Kelvin Cabrera also went 3-for-4 with a game-high three RBIs. Four different Tigers tallied at least two hits, including Josh Rodems, Geoff Dornes, Kyle Desrosiers and Ed Hughes.
RIT jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning in game two. Three runs is all it would take as the Tigers held UC to just two runs and fended off a late rally to earn the key conference split.
After two scoreless innings senior Matt Austin ripped an RBI double to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. Kreag Bradley then drove Austin in with an RBI single and Geoff Dornes singled to center field to score Bradley as the Tigers took an early 3-0 lead.
UC began its rally in the bottom of the fifth inning when Haentges singled and eventually scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to two runs. The Pioneers answered again in the bottom of the sixth inning when Chris Hine drove in Engelhardt to cut the RIT lead to just one run, 3-2, with one inning left to play.
The Pioneers threatened in the bottom of the seventh by loading the bases with two outs, but Andrew Diaz grounded out to third base to end the contest with the Tigers up 3-2.
UC out hit the Tigers 6-3 in game two, but all three of RIT's hits drove in one run as they defeated the Pioneers.
Senior left hander Mike Sadallah pitched a complete game and struck out six in the loss, while his counterpart, Cory Langtry, pitched a complete game and struck out four. Both pitchers allowed just one earned run.
The Pioneers return to action Sunday when they host RIT for a double header on campus at Utica College. The first pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
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