HOUGHTON, NY – The Utica College baseball team split with Houghton on Saturday winning the first game 5-0 and losing the second game 5-4. Utica benefited from a strong outing by senior pitcher Joshua Webb (Verona, NY/VVS) who dominated in the first game. UC is now 1-10 overall and 1-2 in Empire 8 Conference play. The Highlanders improve to 11-10 overall and 2-1 in conference play.
 
Utica 5, Houghton 0-Game 1
 
Webb pitched all seven innings in a complete game shutout in the first game. He struck out a season high 12 batters while walking one and only allowed four hits.  Tim Quinlan (Monroe, CT/Masuck) had a big day at the plate with a triple and three RBI's. The Pioneers turned four hits into five runs as the offense backed the strong pitching.
 
The offense started strong in the first inning when Jake Ryan (Kingston, NY/Kingston) scored on a wild pitch to make it 1-0. Later in the first inning Quinlan hit a bases clearing triple to score two runs to make it 3-0 after the first inning. Ryan would knock in Bryce Patterson (Corning, NY/Corning East) in the second inning when he hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to make it 4-0. In the third inning Quinlan would cap off the scoring when he hit a sacrifice fly to right field that allowed JT Ross (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) to score to make it 5-0.  
 
Tage Johnson would lead the Highlander offense getting two of the four hits in the game. John Kopicky got the start on the mound for Houghton and went all seven innings. Kopicky gave up all five runs while striking out five and walking three.
 
Houghton 5, Utica 4-Game 2
 
Utica led for the majority of the game but gave up a big sixth inning to let Houghton tie the game and then lost the lead in the eighth. UC tried to rally back in the ninth but came up just short. Jacob Gaboriault (Colchester, VT/Essex) went 3-for-3 with an RBI in his first varsity action to lead the Pioneer attack.
 
William Winsman (Palatine Bridge, NY/Canajoharie) would get the start on the mound for UC. Winsman would go six innings striking out two but allowed five hits and three earned runs. Vincent Burillo (Montgomery, NY/Valley Central ) relieved Winsman and went two innings giving up two runs (one earned) while striking out two. Jake Ryan (Kingston, NY/Kingston) had two hits while DeMartino and Ross each had an RBI.
 
Timothy Leathersich went 2-for-4 with three big RBI's to lead the Highlanders attack. Victor Cavalieri got the start and pitched seven innings giving up three runs (two earned) and striking out six. Robert Schmidt would get the win, pitching one inning giving up one earned run and striking out one. Lucas Cornell would earn the save.
 
Utica jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second when Gaboriault singled home DeMartino and Matthew Fitzgerald (Clinton, NY/Notre Dame) hit into a double play that allowed Tim Quinlan (Monroe, CT/Masuck) to score. In the third inning UC added an unearned run when JT Ross (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) doubled in Christian Tiffin (Sherrill, NY/VVS). The Highlanders would even the score at 3-3 in the sixth when Timothy Leathersich doubled home two runs and Garrett Kirkpatrick singled home Leathersich. In the eighth inning Leathersich would double home the go ahead run while Bryan Hodge would score on a passed ball a later in the inning to take a 5-3 lead. In the ninth inning the Pioneers would load the bases but only cross one run when DeMartino hit into a fielders choice that allowed Adam Pexton (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) to score.