Box Score
Hamilton 6, Utica 1 - 26th Annual Jackie Robinson Game Final

Clinton, NY (4/9/2013) – The Utica College baseball team led 1-0 early against host Hamilton College in the 26th annual Jackie Robinson Baseball Game, but the Continentals responded with six unanswered runs, including a grand slam from the bat of senior Gabe Klein in the bottom of the seventh, to earn a 6-1 victory over the Pioneers on Tuesday afternoon.  Utica still leads the Jackie Robinson Game all-time series 14-12.  The storied series began back in 1987. 

Both of the team's starting pitchers were honored as the Most Valuable Players of the game.  Junior hurler Colin Henneberger pitched 6.1 innings and allowed just one run on three hits to earn MVP honors for the Continentals, while UC's Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) pitched 6.2 innings, allowed four earned runs and struck out five on his way to the MVP distinction for the Pioneers.

The Pioneers (1-10) will now play five home games in five days beginning with Union College on Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m.  Empire 8 Conference foe Ithaca College will come to town on Saturday and Sunday to play four games over the course of two days.

Utica junior designated hit Alec Choleva (Coventry, CT/East Catholic) went 2-for-4 on the day, while sophomore third baseman Vincent Burrillo drove in the Pioneers' lone run of the game off a sacrifice fly, scoring classmate Benjamin Hobaica (Clinton, NY/Clinton), in the top of the first inning.  Hobaica finished the day with two stolen bases, while senior Nick Dunbar (Granville, NY/Granville) went 1-for-4 for the Pioneers.

UC held a 1-0 lead through 3.5 innings until the Continentals knotted the score at 1-1 after a sacrifice fly by sophomore Casey Collins scored Klein to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth.  Hamilton took a 2-1 lead in the next inning when sophomore Joe Jensen hit an RBI single to score junior Stephen LaRochelle.

Hamilton was able to break the game wide open in the bottom of the seventh. Jensen doubled down the left field line to put runners on second and third before the Pioneers replaced Jeffers on the mound.  The next batter was hit by a pitch and Klein followed with the grand slam to right center field to give the Continentals a comfortable 6-1 lead. 

That was all the scoring that Hamilton would require as junior Tommy Moriarty, sophomore Jonathan Lane and Alex Pachella ate up the final 2.2 innings to help the Continentals improve to 8-13 overall on the year.