Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Utica 6, Clarkson 4 - Game One Box Score

Utica 4, Clarkson 2 - Game Two Box Score

Potsdam, NY (4-26-12) – The Utica College baseball team swept its first double-header of the season Wednesday against Clarkson University winning 6-4 and 4-2.  Clinton native freshman Benjamin Hobaica (Clinton, NY/Clinton) led the Pioneers with three hits, two stolen bases and one run scored.

Game One

UC took an early 3-0 lead in the top of the second on two hits and a Clarkson error.  Utica started its rally with two-outs and a Chris Podlucky (Grand Island, NY/Grand Island) stolen base.  Podlucky advanced to third while Tyler Young (Latham, NY/Hudson Valley) walked on a ball-four wild pitch, setting up the first and third situation.  Sophomore Rob Heath (Central Square, NY/Paul V. Moore) reached first on a throwing error by the catcher, scoring Podlucky and the speedy Young from first.

Both teams added one run apiece in the third as the Pioneers maintained a two run lead, 4-2.

The Golden Knights cut the lead one in the fourth on a UC throwing error to make the score 4-3. 

Utica would manage one run in the fifth and the sixth on just one hit as it pushed to a 6-2 lead. The home team manufactured two runs in the bottom of the sixth however would fall short of any comeback as the Pioneers sealed game one, 6-4.

Sophomore Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) pitched six complete innings to earn his third win of the season.  Jeffers allowed four runs on six hits while striking out three and walking just two.

Freshman Dylan Leggett (Milton, VT/Milton High School) recorded his first collegiate save allowing no runs and two hits.

Game Two

The Pioneers continued the momentum into the second game, scoring two quick runs in the first to take a 2-0 edge.  Hobaica singled, advanced to third on a freshman Nick Perkins (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady) single and later scored on a wild pitch.  Junior Nick Dunbar (Granville, NY/Granville) registered an RBI sacrifice fly for the second run.

Clarkson scored one run in the third to trim the lead to one, 2-1, before two scoreless innings by both squads.

UC cushioned its lead with two runs in the sixth and led 4-1 heading into the final inning.  The Golden Knights scored one run in their final at bat before freshman Sean McNeil (Riverside, NJ/) closed out the complete game for his first collegiate victory.

McNeil fanned four while allowing just two runs on seven hits.

Hobaica tallied two hits and one run scored while sophomore Alec Choleva (Coventry, CT/East Catholic) added one hit, one RBI and one run in the game two victory

UC improves to 8-22 overall while the Golden Knights fall to 15-16 on the season.  The Pioneers return to action Saturday as they prepare to host a three=-game weekend against Empire 8 rival St. John Fisher College.  First pitch is set for 1 p.m. both days.