Senior center fielder Adam Keller (Rome, N.Y.) went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored -- including one home run -- but the Utica College baseball team could not muster up enough offense as the Pioneers lost to visiting Oswego State 12-6 in non conference play Wednesday. Oswego freshman hurler Dan Erne (Rochester, N.Y.) pitched a complete-game and struck out ten to lift the Lakers to a six run victory.

The Pioneers dropped to 7-18 overall, while the Lakers improved to 16-12. Junior Anthony Di Salvo (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville) (Washingtonville, N.Y.) went 2-for-4 with one RBI, while Russ Haentges (Cowlesville, N.Y.) went 2-for-5 with one run scored for Utica.

After two scoreless innings, Oswego struck first with three runs in the top half of the third inning. Two errors and a sacrifice fly led to two runs for the Lakers and they capped the inning by scoring on a wild pitcher to take a three run advantage. UC answered in the bottom half of the inning when DiSalvo doubled to left center field to score Keller and cut the Oswego lead to 3-1.

Both teams would score one run in the fourth and the Lakers led by two, 4-2, headed into the fifth inning. Oswego went on to extend it's lead to 10-2 by scoring six runs over the course of the next two innings.

UC would not go down easy and the Pioneers rallied with two runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead to 10-4. Both of the Pioneers runs in the inning were scored after they loaded the bases and Kevin Oquendo (Caguas, Puerto Rico) and Keller were both hit by a pitch, consecutively.

Oswego continued to pour on the offense by scoring another run in the top of the seventh to extend its lead back to seven, 11-4. Keller's two run home run in the bottom of the eighth gave the Pioneers hope, but they could not complete the rally, and lost by six runs.

Oswego out hit Utica 17-9 on the day and UC also made four costly errors. Rafael Cordero (Utica, N.Y.) went 3-for-5 at the plate with four RBIs, while three others added three hits apiece.

Freshman pitcher Dennis Labossiere (Lincoln, RI/Lincoln) (Lincoln, R.I.) went 2.2 innings and struck out four, while allowing one earned run in the loss for Utica. The Pioneers pitching staff combined for 12 strike outs on the afternoon.

Utica returns to action Saturday when it hosts Empire 8 Conference rival St. John Fisher College for a double header. The contest is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

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