HOBOKEN, NJ – The Utica College baseball team split a twin bill Sunday against Stevens Institute of Technology at Dobbelaar Field. 

Utica currently holds an 8-3 overall mark on the season including a 2-1 ledger in Empire 8 play. The Pioneers return to the diamond on Tuesday in Buffalo, NY to face Medaille College. First pitch of the non-conference twin bill is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Utica 3, Stevens 2 – Game One Final

The Pioneers worked a one run lead in their first at bat on no hits.  UC converted back-to-back errors into an early 1-0 lead as Benjamin Hobaica (Clinton, NY/Clinton) scored after reaching third base on a throwing error.  Ryan Watson (Deerfield, NY/Whitesboro) moved Hobaica across the dish as he hit a ball to first which resulted in the second Ducks error of the first frame. 

The home team did respond in the bottom half of the first however converting two hits into one run knotting up the contest at one apiece.  Stevens led off with a single and after two consecutive fielder's choice plays, scored on a double from Jayson Yano to tie the game up, 1-1.

The next two frames faired quiet, before UC put up two scores in the top of fourth, giving the Pioneers a 3-1 edge and the eventual game one victory. Utica extended its season mark to eight including back-to-back wins over Stevens improving to 2-0 in Empire 8 Conference play.

The UC offense was guided by designated hitter Matthew DeMartino (Oceanside, NY/Oceanside) who homered and leftfielder Bryce Patterson (Corning, NY/Corning East) who tallied two hits and one run scored.  Leadoff Adam Pexton (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) registered one RBI including a double in the win.

Starter Joshua Webb (Verona, NY/VVS) worked his second complete game of the season throwing seven innings allowing just two runs and striking out seven for his second win of the year.

Utica 3, Stevens  4  – Game Two Final

The second contest featured a pitcher's duel as only one hit marked the scoreboard over the first five innings credited to UC backstop Thomas Dinnen (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas ) who led off the third with a base knock. Ryan Watson (Deerfield, NY/Whitesboro) got the start in game two for the Pioneers and orchestrated a perfect outing through five innings.

After the fifth frame and no score, UC's freshman standout Andrew Hobika, Jr. (Clinton, NY/Clinton) continued his stellar first year campaign with a huge two-out single in the top of the sixth scoring Hobaica and Jake Ryan (Kingston, NY/Kingston) to give Utica a 2-0 lead headed into the ladder part of the weekend set.

Ryan started off the sixth with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball. Hobaica followed with a walk and a stolen bag to put runners on second and third with just one out. Watson couldn't help himself however as he struck out swinging but Hobika picked him up with a two out rope to right field cushioning Watson with a two score lead.

The Ducks broke up Watson's perfect game in the bottom of the sixth as the home team tied up the game using three hits, two hit batters and a sacrifice fly.

Stevens grabbed the game two win with a walk off hit in the bottom of tenth to earn the day two split with two hits and a stolen base en route to a 4-3 win.

Hobika finished the day going 2-for-4 with all three UC RBI while William Winsman (Palatine Bridge, NY/Canajoharie) was tagged with the loss in 3.2 innings of work giving up two runs late on four hits.

SIT moved its overall mark to 8-8 while 1-2 in Empire 8 action. Stevens is back in action Monday as they travel to Union, NJ to challenge nationally-ranked No. 7/6 Kean University (3 p.m.).