UTICA, NY – The Utica College baseball team will kick off its 2015 campaign on Monday, March 16^th in Winter Haven, FL at the Russ Matt Central Florida Invitational ... UC will open up its first season on the diamond with both a junior and varsity program and presently has 52 student-athletes on the roster.

SEASON SCHEDULE PREVIEW

The Pioneers will play eight games in five days down south from Monday, March 16^th through Friday, March 20^th … Utica currently has 38 games overall scheduled for the Spring season … UC was set to play back-to-back doubleheaders this weekend downstate against St. Joseph's-Long Island and Ramapo College but due to inclement weather conditions, had opening weekend cancelled.

RUSS MATT INVITE: The Pioneers will take the diamond against Lesley University (Cambridge, MA) on Monday, Mar. 16^th as they kick off the season with a doubleheader set for 10 a.m. … Last season, the Lynx compiled an overall record of 10-17 including an even 9-9 mark in the New England Athletic Conference … Next, on Tuesday, Mar. 17^th, UC will face Crown College (Cologne. MN) for another pair set to start at 9:10 a.m. … The Storm went 6-27 in 2014 with a 3-17 ledger in the Upper Midwest Minnesota Athletic Conference … On Wednesday, Mar. 18^th, Utica will play one single, nine-inning game against Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (North Adams, MA) … The Trailblazers finished last season with a 3-23 overall record and a 1-13 ledger in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference … Then, on Thursday, Mar. 19^th, the Pioneers challenge Colby Sawyer College (New London, NH) in a twin bill set for 1:30 p.m. … The Chargers went 9-25 overall last season including a 5-16 record in the North Atlantic Conference …  UC wraps up the tourney with one nine-inning game against the College of Mount Saint Vincent on Friday Mar. 30^th … The Dolphins posted a 15-18 record while managing a 8-8 mark in the Skyline Conference in 2014.

HOME-OPENER: The Pioneers return from Spring Break for their home opener on Tuesday, Mar. 24^th at the UC Baseball Field … UC will welcome Hilbert College for an afternoon twin bill set to start at 1 p.m. … The Hawks posted a 6-26 record last season while going 2-9 on the road … This marks the first time the two teams meet on the diamond.

14-STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD: Following the home-opener, Utica will hit the road for 14 straight games including nine in the competitive Empire 8 … The Pioneers kick off the road trip at Stevens as they open up conference play on Saturday, Mar. 28^th for a three game weekend against the Ducks … Utica wraps up the month of March in Buffalo, NY for a pair against Medaille College on Tuesday, Mar. 31^st … UC then heads to Elmira, NY on Friday, Apr. 3^rd  and Saturday, Apr. 4^th for three games against Empire 8 new addition Elmira College … The Soaring Eagles will play their home games at the historic Dunn Filed, home of the Elmira Pioneers … Utica then returns to the Mohawk Valley for two single, nine inning games against local non-conference rivals Hamilton and Cazenovia … Hamilton will host this year's annual Jackie Robinson Game between the two teams on Tuesday, Apr. 7^th … The game will be in Clinton, NY at the Royce Baseball Field on Hamilton's campus … The Pioneers then head to Cazenovia on Thursday, Apr 9^th to challenge the Wildcats before a three game set in Rochester, NY against St. John Fisher …  Utica travels to Fisher on Saturday, Apr. 11^th and Sunday, Apr. 12^th for three games at the Dugan Yard before heading back to wrap up the road trip against local rival SUNYIT … UC concludes its road stretch across town versus local rival SUNYIT on Wednesday, Apr. 15^th in Marcy, NY at the Peter A. Spina Field.

THE HOME STRETCH: After opening up the season with 26 of its first 28 games away from home, the Pioneers will finish their campaign with 11 of its final 12 games at home … Six of the final 11 contests will be in Empire 8 play, three versus Ithaca and three against Houghton … Utica opens up the final home stretch against "Caz" on Thursday, Apr 16^th for one game before welcoming Ithaca over the weekend for three straight … UC and Ithaca will square off in a double header on Saturday, Apr. 18^th and one nine-inning game on Sunday, Apr. 19^th … Utica will then have one non-conference game versus SUNYIT on Wednesday, Apr 22^nd before traveling the next day to future Empire 8 affiliate SUNY Canton for its final road game of the season, on Wednesday, Apr 22^nd … UC will conclude its season with six straight at the UC Baseball Field … The Pioneers wrap up E8 conference action on Friday, Apr. 24 and Saturday, Apr. 25^th against Houghton before challenging Hamilton (4/28/15) for one game and Keuka (4/29/15) for a pair in the season finale.

ROSTER PREVIEW

The Pioneers currently have 48 students-athletes on the roster of which 21 are returners from last year … UC welcomes 27 newcomers to the team including one senior, five juniors, three sophomores and 18 freshmen.

FINAL RUN: Utica's 10 seniors include catchers Eric Rightmier (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro) and Thomas Dinnen (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas ), first baseman and pitcher Ryan Watson (Deerfield, NY/Whitesboro), second baseman Benjamin Hobaica (Clinton, NY/Clinton), outfielder and pitcher Vincent Burillo (Montgomery, NY/Valley Central ), outfielder Nick Perkins (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady), infielder Christopher Wotten (Blackstock, Ontario/Cartwright), along with pitchers Ronald Mannella (Albion, NY/Albion) and Stephen Szatko (Sauquoit, NY/Sauquoit Valley) … The Pioneers welcome senior transfer Daniel Priore (Utica, NY/T.R. Proctor) who will help out in the infield.

THE JUNIORS: UC currently has 12 juniors on the roster, seven returners and five new additions … The returners include infielders Matt Rogers (Frankfort, NY/Frankfort-Schuyler), Adam Pexton (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) and Matthew DeMartino (Oceanside, NY/Oceanside) along with pitchers James Corcoran (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville), Joshua Webb (Verona, NY/VVS), William Winsman (Palatine Bridge, NY/Canajoharie) and Joseph Horning (Canajoharie, NY/Canajoharie) … The Pioneers welcome newcomers Thomas Woodburn (West Islip, NY/West Islip), Bryce Patterson (Corning, NY/Corning East), Jordan Hughes (Baldwinsville, NY/CW Baker), Josh Luczak (Ava, NY/RFA) and Brandon Thomas (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markam) to the roster.

SOPHOMORE CLASS: Utica enters the season with eight sophomores on the roster including five from last year and three new additions … Infielders Matt Haddad (Frankfort, NY/T.R Proctor) and Richard Beverly (Bronx, NY/Manhattan Hunter Science) along with pitchers Ethan Bliss (Cooperstown, NY /Cooperstown), Josh Call (Syracuse, NY/Solvay) and Dom Caccioppoli (Circleville, NY/Pine Bush ) return for theirs second year campaigns while Jerred Beniquez (Port Ewen, NY/Kingston), Paul Joyce (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk) and Ryon Lupia (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) throw on the Utica jersey for the first time.

WELCOME FRESHMAN: The Pioneers welcome 18 freshmen to the 2015 roster ...  Utica brought in eight infielders including Andrew Hobika, Jr. (Clinton, NY/Clinton), Kolbie Glionna (Hagaman, NY/Amsterdam), Anthony Mosher (Pulaski, NY/Altmar-Parish-Williamstown), Taylor Thomas (South Windsor, Ct/East Windsor), Justin Schloss (East Meadow, NY/East Meadow), Ian Machia (Montgomery, VT/Enosburg Falls), Angel Buelto (Bronx, NY/Peace & Diversity) and Zach Ouderkirk (Canajoharie, NY/Canajoharie) … The four outfielders are Mike Dobek (Herkimer, NY/Herkimer), Jake Ryan (Kingston, NY/Kingston), Brett Sarnowski (Scotia, NY/Scotia-Glenville) and Alex Dobrzenski (Clinton, NY/Clinton, NY) … Ryan Alphonse (Rock Tavern, NY/Washingtonville), Zach Brown (Oswego, NY/Sandy Creek), Justin Shabman (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Kennedy Catholic), Nick Dinnen (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas), Brent Hecker (Cassville, NY/Mount Markam) will pitch for UC while newcomer Zachary Schellenger (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady) will aid the catching corps.