Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Utica, NY (4-18-14) – The Utica College baseball team swept its first twin bill of the season Friday defeating host Houghton College on the road, 2-0 and 5-4,  at the Houghton Baseball Stadium. Sophomore Joshua Webb (Verona, NY/VVS) led the Pioneers in game one tossing a complete game shutout to pick up his first win of the season while junior Ryan Watson (Deerfield, NY/Whitesboro) did it all in game getting the win and going 3-for-5 at the dish with two RBI.

UC moves it overall record to 6-12 while the Highlanders fall to 6-16 on the season. The teams are right back on the diamond Saturday for another twin bill at the Houghton Baseball Stadium. First-pitch of game one on Saturday is set for 12 p.m.

Utica 2, Houghton 0 - Game One

Utica got on the board first with the eventual game-winner in the top of the second.   Senior Rob Heath (Central Square, NY/Paul V. Moore) reached on an error and later scored on another to give UC it's first and only needed run as Webb worked a gem on the mound.

In the sixth, UC strung together three consecutive hits with its 3-4-5 hitters edging a 2-0 lead into the final frames.  Senior Alec Choleva (Coventry, CT/East Catholic) doubled with one out followed by a Ryan Watson (Deerfield, NY/Whitesboro) single.  Junior Vincent Burillo (Montgomery, NY/Valley Central ) ripped an RBI single scoring Choleva from third.

Webb threw his third complete game of the season allowing just four hits and two walks.  He fanned eight Highlanders in the game one victory.

Utica 5, Houghton 4 - Game Two (Nine Innings)

Utica got on the scoreboard first again in game two with three runs in the third on two hits and the help of two Highlander errors. Watson singled to drive in UC's first while Heath followed on the same play after two Houghton mishaps. Burillo capped the third inning scoring with an RBI sac fly to right field to give the Pioneers a 3-0 lead.

The home team answered right back in the bottom half of the inning with two runs on two hits and one UC error to pull within one of the lead, 3-2. 

After two quiet frames of scoreless ball Houghton put together a two run rally to take its first lead of the afternoon, 4-3, in the bottom of the sixth. 

HC held its lead until the top of the ninth when the Pioneers retaliated with two runs of their own en route to the twilight sweep.

Watson threw eight innings allowing just one earned run, on three hits and one walk while helping himself at the plate with a 3-for-5 day including the go-ahead RBI triple in the ninth.

Junior Benjamin Hobaica (Clinton, NY/Clinton) ripped a one out single in the top of the ninth to tie up the game before Watson followed with a two-out winner.

All six games against the future conference rivals have been decided by three runs or less including four one battles. Houghton is currently 4-2 against UC all-time after sweeping both double headers last year in Utica.  With 14 scheduled games remaining, UC needs just one more win to eclipse last year's overall win total (6-28).