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Utica, NY (4-19-13) – The Utica College baseball team welcomes Houghton College Friday for a long awaited home-opener at the Utica College Baseball Field … The teams are scheduled to play back-to-back doubleheaders with first-pitch of game one scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon.

UC Looks to Finish Strong: The Pioneers are currently 2-14 overall this season and winless in E8 conference play with a 0-5 mark … UC recently snapped a seven game slide as it split a doubleheader with cross-town rival SUNYIT Wednesday afternoon in Marcy, NY … Despite the uneven record, Utica has lost six games by three runs including three of those defeats by one score.

Last Time on the Diamond: On Wednesday afternoon, UC traveled across town to Marcy, NY and divvied up a pair with SUNY Institute of Technology winning game one, 5-3, before being shut out, 6-0, in game two … Seniors Angel Zapata (Bronx, NY/Bronx Center for Science and Math), Chris Podlucky (Grand Island, NY/Grand Island) and Nick Dunbar (Granville, NY/Granville) led the Pioneers as they combined for nine hits … The senior trio proved tough in game one accounting for 5-of-7 Pioneer hits, three runs scored and two RBI … Dunbar tallied two RBI, while Podlucky and Zapata added two hits apiece and combined for three runs scored … Junior Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) fired five innings, fanning three for his first win of the season while freshman Ronald Mannella (Albion, NY/Albion) grabbed the two-inning save for UC.

Meet the Highlanders: Houghton currently occupies a 9-13 overall mark including a 2-5 ledger against Empire 8 opponents … The Highlanders were swept by Ithaca College, on the road, back in late March in a three-game series by scores of 7-2, 11-4, and 6-3 … HC recently split a pair of doubleheaders with Stevens in Olean, NY at St. Bonaventure … Houghton won both games in shutout fashion by scores of 3-0 and 4-0 … The Highlanders won 3-0 and lost 7-0 on day one and then lost 2-1 before taking game two 7-0 on the second day.

Home Stand Continues: Following this weekend's contests, UC is back in action Wednesday, April 24th as it remains at its friendly confines to face non-conference rival Keuka College for a twilight doubleheader … First-pitch of game one is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the UC Baseball Field … The Storm presently holds an overall record of 3-18 including a 1-7 mark in the NEAC.

Road Ahead: After the six-game home stint, the Pioneers hit the road for six-straight to wrap up the 2013 campaign … Utica heads to Hoboken, NJ for the weekend of April 27th as it concludes conference play against Stevens Institute of Technology in back-to-back doubleheaders (4/27/13-4/28/13) … UC then travels to Canton, NY for a pair against the SUNY-Canton Roo's in the season finale.