Utica, NY (April 19, 2009) - The Utica College baseball team split an Empire 8 Conference double header against visiting RIT for the second straight day Sunday. Senior right hander Brandon Sleezer pitched a complete game and struck out six as the Pioneers won game one 6-4. The Tigers out hit the Pioneers 9-4 en route to a 7-2 victory in the night cap. Sophomore first baseman Adam Bittel went 3-for-5 at the dish with one RBI over the course of two games, while Andrew Diaz remained hot at the plate and went 4-for-6 with one RBI. Sophomore captain Anthony DiSalvo went 2-for-6 with two RBIs on the day for UC.
The Pioneers are now 5-17 overall on the year and 2-8 in conference play, while the Tigers, who were picked to win the conference in the preseason coaches' poll, are now 12-19 overall and 6-6 in the E8.
The Tigers struck first in game one by scoring in the top of the first inning when Senior Jeremy Tosh drove in two-time conference player of the year Geoff Dornes to give RIT a 1-0 lead. The Pioneers answered right back in the bottom of the first when sophomore Jon Meyer smacked a single to right field and scored leadoff hitter Justin Engelhardt to knot the contest at 1-1.
UC took a commanding 4-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning behind a bases loaded, two-RBI, single from the bat of senior left fielder Kelvin Cabrera. Adam Bittel immediately followed Carbera with an RBI single of his own, scoring sophomore Chris Hine, to give UC a three run lead.
RIT would not go away quietly posting three runs in the top of the fifth inning to tie the score, for the second time in the game, at 4-4. The Tigers loaded the bases with three consecutive singles before Utica second baseman Chris Hine botched a double play ball as the Tigers scored their first run of the inning. Jeremy Tosh then hit a sacrifice fly, which scored Justin Smith to cut UC's lead to 4-3. Junior Josh Rodems followed Tosh with an RBI double to close out the fifth inning scoring for RIT.
The Pioneers answered right back in the bottom half of the fifth with two runs and senior pitcher Brandon Sleezer did not allow another run over the course of the final two innings to seal the victory for Utica. Chris Hine and Andrew Diaz each singled and Kelvin Cabrera was hit by a pitch to load the bases and begin the eventual game-winning rally for the Pioneers. Anthony DiSalvo ripped the game-winning, two-RBI, single to left center to give UC a 6-4 lead they would not relinquish.
Seven different Pioneers tallied at least one hit in game one, including two hits apiece from Jon Meyer, Andrew Diaz and Anthony DiSalvo. Freshman Ben Robertson led the way for RIT with a game-high three hits, while Geoff Dornes, Jeremy Tosh and Ed Hughes each tallied two hits.
Sophomore pitcher Mike Marsillo struck out four in the game one loss on the mound for the Tigers.
After two scoreless innings to start game two, RIT jumped on UC by scoring three runs in the top half of the third inning to take a 3-0 lead. The rally began with a walk and two singles, which loaded the bases for RIT. UC pitcher Sean Fisher then hit Jeremy Tosh with a pitch to force one run in, followed by Kyle Desrosiers sacrifice fly that scored Ed Hughes. Kreag Bradley then hit an RBI single before Fisher was able to stop the bleeding and end the inning with the Tigers leading by three.
The Pioneers made it a one run game by scoring twice in the bottom of the fourth inning as RIT clung to a 3-2 lead. Andrew Diaz ripped an RBI single and the Pioneers scored again after an error by RIT, to cut the deficit to one run with three full innings left to play.
RIT was able to post four runs over the course of the next two innings and Geoff Dornes was lights out on the mound as the Tigers cruised to a five run victory.
Dornes struck out four, scatted four hits and allowed just one earned run in the game two victory on the mound for RIT. He also went 3-for-4 at the plate with one RBI and one run scored to pace the Tigers. Sean Fisher struck out two batters in 5.1 innings of work for the Pioneers.
Utica returns to action Wednesday when they travel to non conference opponent Oneonta for two games. The first pitch is set for 4 p.m.
--- www.ucpioneers.com ---
