Box Score
WINTER HAVEN, FL (3-21-14) – The Utica College baseball team lost its fifth straight Friday, 11-2, against old Empire 8 Conference affiliate Rochester Institute of Technology in its final game at the Russ Matt Tournament played at the Chain of Lakes Park. The Pioneers were led by junior catcher
Thomas Dinnen (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas ) who had a perfect day at the dish going 4-for-4 with both Utica RBI's including one homer and one double.
UC is now 3-5 overall and hopes to host its home-opener Wednesday, Mar. 26th when it welcomes Oswego State for one single nine-inning contest (3 p.m.) at the Utica College Baseball Field.
RIT (1-0 overall) returns to the diamond Tuesday afternoon in Auburndale, FL to face UMASS Dartmouth in a nine-inning game (12:30 p.m.). The Tigers have had four games cancelled (three in Rochester and one in Canton) due to weather and opened up their season today. Rochester remains in Florida through Mar. 25th and is expected to play seven games total.
The Tigers are now 54-14-1 all-time against the Pioneers. RIT and Utica were former rivals in the Empire 8 conference.
RIT 10, Utica 2 – Nine Inning Game
The Tigers scored first with one run in the bottom of the first frame off just one hit, however, a stolen base, walk and UC wild pitch would aid Rochester's 1-0 lead.
The Pioneers tied up the contest, 1-1, in the top of the second as juniors
Vincent Burillo (Montgomery, NY/Valley Central ) and
Thomas Dinnen (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas ) teamed up for the game-tying score. Burillo singled to start the inning and advanced to second as RIT returned the wild pitch favor. Dinnen roped a double down the left field line to put UC on the board.
Rochester pushed to a convincing six run lead over the next two frames scoring seven runs on just four hits. The Tigers used two hits and three Utica errors in the third to regain a 5-1 edge before tacking on three more in the fourth.
UC added its second run in the top of fourth, to make the score 5-2, as Dinnen smacked his first home run of the season over the left field wall.
RIT answered right back as it cashed in on two fourth inning walks with a three-run dinger of the wood Rochester's Walt Roman to take an 8-2 cushion. The Tigers would add three more later on to secure the nine run victory.
Senior hurler
Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) was tagged with the loss after 3.2 innings of work allowing seven runs, just three earned, while waking five and fanning four.
Classmate
Alec Choleva (Coventry, CT/East Catholic) went 2-for-3 with two singles in the loss while Burillo and junior
Nick Perkins (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady) added one hit each.
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