The Utica College baseball team looks to build off its recent success this weekend as it takes on Empire 8 opponent, Stevens Institute of Technology in a three-game series.

Game Time: Friday's double-header is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. while Saturday's contest is scheduled for 11 a.m.

Where We Sit: The Pioneers are currently 2-16 and are coming off an 8-7 win over Union College… Sophomore pitcher Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) pitched eight full innings, allowing just one earned run, while freshman Benjamin Hobaica (Clinton, NY/Clinton) went 3-for-4 with two RBI to pace the Pioneers.

Choleva Does it All: Sophomore utility player Alec Choleva (Coventry, CT/East Catholic) was named the Empire 8 Conference Pitcher of the Week after throwing a one-hitter before the game was suspended last Sunday… Choleva was also named Utica College's Male Athlete of the Week after he totaled two hits, two RBIs, one run scored and one stolen base throughout the weekend set… He is first on the team in runs scored (ten) and at bats (65) while second in hits (18) and RBI (nine), and third in batting average (.277)...  On the mound, he leads the rotation in innings pitched and strikeouts.

Dunbar Heads the Offense: Junior Nick Dunbar (Granville, NY/Granville) leads Utica's offense with a .333 batting average on a team-best 21 hits… He was named the Empire 8 Player of the Week last week after totaling five RBI, three hits, and one stolen base against Rutgers-Camden… The Granville, NY native currently has 19 RBI and eight runs scored in his 63 at-bats this season.

Aiding Freshmen: First year classmates Thomas Dinnen (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas ), Vincent Burillo (Montgomery, NY/Valley Central ) and Benjamin Hobaica (Clinton, NY/Clinton) have fit in nicely with the Utica offense…  Dinnen is second on the team with a .282 batting average and has 11 hits… Burillo, a utility infielder and pitcher, has eight hits and is fourth on the team with a .276 batting average in ten games played for the Pioneers...  Hobaica has started in 13 games and is coming off a three-hit performance against Union.

Scouting Stevens: The Ducks are currently 14-9 overall and 1-2 in the Empire 8… They are coming off a series against Ithaca College in which they fell 5-1 and 9-2, before rebounding for a 10-6 win… The Pioneers are 2-7 against Stevens dating back to 2006… Last year, the teams split 2-2 in their season series… Junior Chris Podlucky (Grand Island, NY/Grand Island) had five hits, including a three-run homer, and five RBI in the four games last season.

Looking Ahead: UC returns to action Wednesday as it hosts nearby Hamilton College for the 25th annual Jackie Robinson Game... First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.