UTICA, NY – The Utica College baseball team had its five game win streak snapped Monday as it lost 16-14 to visiting Houghton College at the UC Baseball Field. UC was led by
Matthew DeMartino (Oceanside, NY/Oceanside) and
Adam Pexton (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) who combined for four hits, four runs scored and six RBI including DeMartino's grand slam in the fourth inning.
The Pioneers drop to 17-12 overall and are right back on the diamond Tuesday as they welcome local rival Hamilton College. First pitch of the nine inning game is set for 4 p.m. at the UC Baseball Field.
The Highlanders improve to 16-18 on the season and return to action Friday as they travel to St. John Fisher for a three-game weekend against the Cardinals.
The visitors got on the board first in the top of second with two runs on three hits including two RBI doubles as Houghton took a 2-0 lead.
The Pioneers responded in their next at bat with a five run inning as they used four hits and the help of a Highlander error to take a 5-2 advantage.
Bryce Patterson (Corning, NY/Corning East), Pexton and
Benjamin Hobaica (Clinton, NY/Clinton) each added RBI singles.
Thomas Woodburn (West Islip, NY/West Islip) drove in a run as he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded followed by a sac fly from
Jake Ryan (Kingston, NY/Kingston).
HC answered scoring six more runs over the next two innings on seven hits. Houghton put up four runs in the third and two in the fourth as it regained the lead, 8-5.
UC came back in the bottom half of the inning with six runs on four hits behind a base clearing grand slam from designated hitter
Matthew DeMartino (Oceanside, NY/Oceanside) as the Pioneers retook the lead, 11-8.
The fifth inning featured a combined seven runs. Houghton posted five in the top half moving to a 13-11 edge before UC scored two in the bottom to knot up the contest at 13-13.
The visitors tacked on three more scores over the next three innings compared to UC's one as they led 16-14 headed into the final frame and would go on to earn the eventual victory.
Pexton led the UC offense going 3-for-5 on the day with two runs scored and one RBI while Ryan,
Brandon Thomas (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) and
Thomas Dinnen (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas ) each added two hits, one RBI and a combined five runs scored in the loss.