Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Utica 5, Stevens 0 - Game One Final

Stevens 7, Utica 5 - Game Two Final

Hoboken, NJ (4-28-13) – The Utica College baseball team shutout host Stevens Institute of Technology, 5-0, in game one for its first win in the Empire 8 Conference this season however lost, 7-5, in game two to split the day-two doubleheader.  The Pioneers were led by senior shortstop Chris Podlucky (Grand Island, NY/Grand Island) and sophomore catcher Thomas Dinnen (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas ).  Podlucky went 2-for-3 with two RBI, two runs scored and a big two-run two-out homerun in the game one victory while Dinnen went 2-for-3 in game two driving in three runs in the defeat. Senior classmate Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) grabbed his second victory on the mound with six innings of work allowing just three hits and no runs while fanning four.

UC is now 5-22 overall this season including a 1-8 mark in the E8 and return to the diamond Wednesday, May 1st for a pair in Canton, NY against SUNY-Canton.  First-pitch of game one is set for 2 p.m.  The Ducks are now 22-17 on the season while 7-9 in Empire 8 play and wrap up their regular season campaign at home Wednesday against New Jersey City University under the lights of the De Baum Sports Complex.

Utica 5, Stevens 0 – Game One

The Pioneers scored all five runs in the second and third innings en route to their first win in the Empire 8 this season.  UC gathered three runs on four hits and one error in the top of the second before insuring the eventual win with two more runs in the third.

Three consecutive singles to start the second from Dinnen, Podlucky and freshman Matthew DeMartino (Oceanside, NY/Oceanside) accounted for the first run while a fielder's choice from junior Rob Heath (Central Square, NY/Paul V. Moore) and a base knock from sophomore Nick Perkins (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady) aided the other two runs.

Podlucky cushioned the win, in the third, as he stepped up to the plate with two outs and one runner on base and drilled his first homerun of the season.


Stevens 7, Utica 5 – Game Two

The home team scored one run in the bottom of the first, with the help of a Utica error, to take an early one run lead on a double down the left field line.  UC quickly answered in the top of the second with one run of its own to know up the contest, 1-1.

The Ducks came right back nonetheless with four runs on five hits and another UC mishap, all with two outs.  The Pioneers turned a big double play after allowing a leadoff single.  However, Stevens managed a four rally with two outs to edge a 5-1 lead.

UC responded thought with four runs of its own, over the next three at bats, to take its first lead of game two by a mere one run, 5-4, headed into the bottom of the fifth.  Dinnen roped a two-run double in the third and an RBI single in the fifth while senior Angel Zapata (Bronx, NY/Bronx Center for Science and Math) cracked his first homer of his final campaign on a solo shot to right-center in the fourth.

SIT proved tough though as it skimmed the tying run in the bottom of the inning and the go ahead run in the sixth while managing on five hits in the game two win.

Sophomore Vincent Burillo (Montgomery, NY/Valley Central ) gave up two runs on six hits in just 1.2 innings of work in the start while juniors Ronald Mannella (Albion, NY/Albion) and Anthony Johnson (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) closed out the relief on the hill.  Mannella tossed 2.1 innings of scoreless effort while Johnson allowed five scores on six hits and was tagged with the loss.

Junior Rob Heath (Central Square, NY/Paul V. Moore) went 1-for-3 scoring two runs in the leadoff spot while Dinnen continued his streak at the dish with two hits and three RBI.  Senior Angel Zapata (Bronx, NY/Bronx Center for Science and Math) roped his first collegiate long ball on a solo shot in the fourth inning.