Utica 9, Stevens 0 - Game One Box Score

Stevens 3, Utica 1 - Game Two Box Score

Hoboken, N.J. (4/30/2011) - Senior pitcher Chris Pallas (Rome, NY/Rome Catholic School) pitched a complete-game and struck out a career-high nine batters to lead Utica to a 9-0 win over host Stevens Institute of Technology in game one of an Empire 8 Conference double header Saturday afternoon. Sophomore shortstop Chris Podlucky (Grand Island, NY/Grand Island) hit his first career home run, a three run shot over the right field fence, to help spark the Pioneers to their third conference win of the season. Podlucky finished game-one with a career-best four RBIs. The Pioneers fought hard in game two, allowing just three hits, but fell short, 3-1, to the host Ducks. Matt Zitt (Latrobe, PA/Greater Latrobe) and Donato Traditi (Lagrangeville, NY/Arlington) combined to pitch the entire contest. Two key doubles and one solo home run was all Stevens would need to earn the game two victory.

Senior Anthony Di Salvo (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville) went 3-for-5 on the day for UC (5-22, 3-6 E8) with three runs scored and one RBI, while freshman stand out Alec Choleva (Coventry, CT/East Catholic) went 3-for-7 at the dish with one RBI and one run scored. Sophomore Nick Dunbar (Granville, NY/Granville) also had a career-day, going 3-for-7 with three runs scored and his first collegiate solo home run. Podlucky and sophomore outfielder Angel Zapata (Bronx, NY/Bronx Center for Science and Math) each capped the afternoon with two hits.

UC jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead in the first two innings of game one. Di Salvo opened the day with a triple and eventually scored on a sacrifice ground out by Podlucky in the top of the first inning. UC exploded for six runs in the top of the second behind RBI doubles from Di Salvo and Choleva as well as a three RBI home run from Podlucky.

UC essentially put the game out of reach with two more runs in the top of the fourth inning. Di Salvo singled to center field to start the inning, and after Dunbar doubled to left center, senior first baseman Adam Bittel (New Hartford, CT/Northwestern Region) drove in Di Salvo with a sacrifice fly. Dunbar later scored on an error to give UC a commanding 8-0 lead.

Senior second baseman Joe Sportman (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn)'s sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh followed Choleva's inning opening triple to give UC an insurance run and the 9-0 game one victory. Pallas scattered six hits over the course of seven innings to earn his first victory of the season for UC.

The Pioneers will stay overnight in Hoboken, N.J. and head back to Stevens in the morning for games three and four of the weekend set. Sunday's contests are scheduled to begin at 12 p.m.

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