Ithaca 17, Utica 5 Box Score

Utica, NY (5-7-11) - The Utica College Baseball team lost, 17-5, Saturday afternoon on Senior Day to Empire 8 Conference rival Ithaca College. The Pioneers fall to 5-9 in conference play and 8-25 overall while the Bombers improved to 6-6 in the E8 and 15-13 on the season. Senior captain Anthony Di Salvo (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville) led UC with two hits, two RBI's and one run scored.

Over the course of the first three innings, Ithaca jumped out to a 7-0 lead on nine hits, while shuting down 9-of-10 Pioneers. The Bombers added to their lead in the top of the fourth with another three run inning as they increased their lead to 10-0. UC got on the board in the bottom of the fourth as Di Salvo singled and later scored his, team-leading, 20th run of the season on a sacrifice fly, to cut the deficit to 10-1. IC racked up five more runs, in the top of the fifth, on a two-run triple and back-to-back home runs and as they pushed to a 15-1 lead. Ithaca tacked on two more runs in the seventh and led 17-1 headed into the bottom half of the inning.

The Pioneers loaded the bases with no outs however could only muster two runs in the bottom of the seventh as they trailed 15-3. Senior Ted Krueger (Franklinville, NY/Franklinville) continued his hot bat with a RBI single up the middle and later, Adam Bittel (New Hartford, CT/Northwestern Region) crossed the plate on a wild pitch.

After a scoreless eighth inning, Utica shut down the Bombers in the top of the ninth as Di Salvo made his first relief appearance of the year. UC rallied in its last at bat, scoring two runs on four hits while leaving four on the base pads. However, the Pioneers could not overcome Ithaca's high powered offense as they were defeated 17-5.

Bittel went 2-for-4 at the plate as he increased his season average to .291. In his last two games, the first baseman is 5-for-8 including three doubles, five runs scored and four RBI's en route to concluding his senior campaign.

Krueger, in his last six games, has posted an impressive .476 (9-for-19) average at the dish while driving in 10 RBI's and tallying four runs scored.

Freshman Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) threw four complete innings allowing 10 earned runs on 13 hits as he fell t 2-4 on the year. Senior Zach Hasselbarth relieved Jeffers and tossed 2.1 innings while surrendering seven earned runs and fanning two. Freshman (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn)Donato Traditi# and Di Salvo combined for 2.2 shut out innings as UC dropped to 5-9 in E8 action.

The Pioneers wrap up their 2011 campaign Sunday as they host Ithaca at The Utica College Baseball Field. The conference double header is scheduled to start at 12 p.m.