Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Utica, NY (4-20-13) – The Utica College baseball team was swept by Houghton College, 7-6 and 7-4, Saturday afternoon at the Utica College Baseball Field. UC was led by sophomore catcher Thomas Dinnen (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas ) who posted a 5-for-8 day at the plate with two runs scored.

The Pioneers fall to 2-18 on the season and remain home Wednesday as they welcome non-conference opponent Keuka College for a doubleheader.  First-pitch of game on is set for 3 p.m. The Highlanders improve to 13-13 overall and are back in action Friday as they travel to St. John Fisher for a pair against the Cardinals.

Houghton 7, Utica 6 – Game One

UC managed a 6-3 lead heading into the last inning but could not hold on as the visitors pulled away with another late victory. The Pioneers took an early lead in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly from senior Tyler Young (Latham, NY/Hudson Valley). Dinnen scored the contests' initial run on the fly out after leading off the inning with a single. The Highlanders tied the game in the top of the third on a sac fly of their own before the UC offense came to life converting five runs, over its next three at bats, by the way of five hits and a visitor mishap.

Sophomore second baseman Benjamin Hobaica (Clinton, NY/Clinton) singled and scored in the third to regain a mere one run edge, 2-1, before UC's three run fourth inning rally. Senior Nick Dunbar (Granville, NY/Granville) singled and scored while classmate Angel Zapata (Bronx, NY/Bronx Center for Science and Math) tallied a base knock to drive in junior Alec Choleva (Coventry, CT/East Catholic) as the home team moved to a 5-1 lead.

The Pioneers added another insurance run in the bottom of the sixth as sophomore Vincent Burillo (Montgomery, NY/Valley Central ) doubled to start the inning and eventually crossed the plate to cushion a 6-3 lead.  However, another devastating, last inning, at bat by the Highlanders would result in a third straight late defeat for UC in game one of the four-game set.

Freshman Joshua Webb (Verona, NY/VVS) tossed six innings allowing three runs on five hits while fanning five in the loss.

Dinnen continued his hot bat, in the four hole, with three hits and one run scored to guide the Pioneers.

Houghton 7, Utica 4 – Game Two

The Highlanders came out with confidence in the fourth and final game of the weekend scoring two runs in the first, four in the fourth and one in the fifth as they managed a 7-0 advantage into the bottom of sixth.

Houghton pitcher Kevin Casser shut down UC over the first five innings of play allowing just two hits while blanking three consecutive 1-2-3 innings.  Senior
Chris Podlucky (Grand Island, NY/Grand Island) doubled in the first while Dinnen did the same in the fourth but remained on the bags after the final out of each.

UC gathered some momentum late as it put together four runs in its final two at bats but could overcome the early rush by the visitors losing its fifth straight game and third by a mere one score.

Freshman Adam Pexton (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) clutched a 2-for-2 day scoring two runs as he came in late in the sixth inning to provide a spark for UC while Dinnen continued his hot streak with his third multi-hit outing in as many games.