Utica, NY (4-24-13) – The Utica College baseball team wraps up its six-game homestand Wednesday as it welcomes non-conference rival Keuka College for an afternoon doubleheader … First-pitch of game one is set for 1 p.m. at the Utica College Baseball Field.

Follow the Link to listen to the game Live on WPNR (90.7 FM) – Utica College Radio

UC Looks to Snap Five-Game Slide: The Pioneers are currently 2-18 overall including an 0-5 mark in the Empire 8 and have dropped five-straight … Three of those losses came at the hands of Houghton College, by one run, this past weekend … Houghton managed late comebacks in the first three games, of the four-game set, while scoring seven total runs in the seventh and eighth innings en route to three straight, one run victories …  With 13 games remaining on the schedule, UC looks to get on track and wrap up the season with a strong finish.

Last Time on the Diamond: Utica lost four close games this past weekend to Houghton College as it faced the Highlanders for the first time in program-history, on the baseball diamond … UC was swept both days losing Friday 5-4 and 9-8 and then Saturday 7-6 and 7-4 … The Pioneers could not hold the lead late as they allowed Houghton two runs and four runs in the seventh innings of game one and giving up the go ahead and eventual winning run in the eighth inning of game two … UC did get the bats going however as the sophomore class put up good numbers in the box … Catcher Thomas Dinnen (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas ) and utility standout Vincent Burillo (Montgomery, NY/Valley Central ) led the way going a combined 16-of-28 at the plate with seven RBI, seven runs scored and five doubles over the four games … Second baseman classmate Benjamin Hobaica (Clinton, NY/Clinton) also chipped in with four hits, 2 RBI and two runs scored … The trio accounted for 20 of Utica's 35 total hits, 9-of-18 RBI, and 9-of-22 runs scored to guide the Pioneers.

UC's Backstop Named E8 POTW: Sophomore catcher Thomas Dinnen (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas ) was named Empire 8 Baseball Player of the Week Monday for his solid performance at the dish and behind the plate this past week … Dinnen posted an impressive .600 batting average in six games last week for the Pioneers … He had nine hits in 15 at-bats, three doubles, three runs scored and three RBI … He also caught four runners stealing. On April 19, Dinnen went 4-for-6 with two runs scored, one double and two RBI in the first doubleheader against Houghton … He backed that up with a 5-for-7 performance including two doubles the following day in the second doubleheader with the Highlanders … UC's everyday catcher bumped his season average to .255 over the weekend, good enough for third on the team.  He is also second in doubles (four), third in hits (13) and RBI (five) while gunning down 50% of runners stealing (11-for-22) this season.

Up Next: Following Wednesday's contests, UC hits the road for six-straight beginning this weekend as it heads to Hoboken, NJ for back-to-back doubleheaders against Empire 8 foe Stevens Institute of Technology … Game one on Friday is set for 6 p.m. under the lights while Saturday's games will start at 12 p.m.

Schedule Ahead: UC then travels to Canton, NY next Wednesday, May 1 for a twilight doubleheader against SUNY - Canton before hosting it final nine inning game at home on Saturday, May 4th against John Jay College of Criminal Justice … The Pioneers then wrap up their 2013 campaign on the road with back-to-back doubleheaders versus St. John Fisher (5/5/13) and Oswego State (5/8/13).