The Utica College baseball team improved to 4-7 after beating host Cazenovia College 14-7 in a non-conference game at Veterans Field Thursday night.

After a quiet first inning, the Pioneers rallied behind senior designated hitter Russ Haentges (Cowlesville, NY) as he roped two home runs, including a grand slam, in the top of the second inning. Haentges, batting clean up, led off the inning with a solo home run to left field. UC was then able to muster up a few more runs, including two on errors, before loading the bases for Haentges. In his second at bat of the inning the DH cleaned up with a grand slam to give the Pioneers a 9-0 lead.

The Wildcats would score two runs in the bottom half of the inning and one in the third to pull within the lead 9-3. UC would come back in the fifth and score three runs, capitalizing on three Cazenovia errors. Both teams scored two runs in the sixth to make the score 14-5 in favor of Utica.

The Pioneers would relieve starting pitcher sophomore Matt Zitt (Latrobe, PA/Greater Latrobe) (Latrobe, PA) after six innings with sophomore reliever Nate Sortino (Oxford, NY). Zitt pitched six innings, allowing five earned runs on seven hits, including four strikeouts and three walks. Sortino would give UC two shut out innings in the seventh and eighth, before allowing two runs in the ninth to close out the victory for Utica College.

Sophomore catcher Dan Bittel (New Hartford, CT/Northwestern Region) (New Hartford, CT) went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Junior Kevin Oquendo (Caguas, PR) added three hits and two runs scored. Senior center fielder Adam Keller (Rome, NY) tallied four RBI's for the Pioneers.

The Pioneers return to action Saturday, April 3rd as they travel to Brockport State to face the Golden Eagles at Clark V. Whited Complex. The non-conference contest is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

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