Box Score UTICA, NY – The Utica College baseball team rallied with five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to earn an 11-10 walk-off victory over visiting Elmira College in game one of an Empire 8 Conference doubleheader on Saturday at the UC Baseball Field. WIth two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Vincent Burillo (Montgomery, NY/Valley Central ) ripped the game-winning double down the left field line, scoring JT Ross (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) and Adam Pexton (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro), to help complete the Pioneer rally. The second game of the doubleheader was halted at 10-5 in the top of the sixth inning due to darkness and will be completed at a later date.
 
Utica 11, Elmira 10 - Game 1 Final 

Senior Joshua Webb (Verona, NY/VVS) got the start for Utica and went five innings, allowing seven hits and seven unearned runs, while striking out five. Gavin McCann (Highland, NY/Highland) came in for Webb and allowed two hits and two earned runs before being replaced by Vincent Burillo (Montgomery, NY/Valley Central ) who pitched two innings, allowed two hits, gave up one earned run and struck out two. Burillo earned his first win of the season on the mound as the Pioneers record moved to 2-12 overall and 2-4 in Empire 8 play. Tim Quinlan (Monroe, CT/Masuck) led the team in RBI with three while JT Ross (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) and Burillo each had two RBI.

Nick Sampogna got the start for the Soaring Eagles and went six innings, allowing five hits, six earned runs, and three walks while striking out seven. Nick Cottone got one out in the seventh but allowed two earned runs and four runs overall. Blake Phelps got one out before giving up the game winning hit and run. Elmira was led by Dennis Rudolph who had two hits, one run scored, and three RBI.

Utica took an early 1-0 lead in the second when Jake Ryan (Kingston, NY/Kingston) doubled home freshman catcher Matthew Fitzgerald (Clinton, NY/Notre Dame). Elmira then took a 4-1 lead in the fourth inning off of some key errors by the Pioneer defense. Utica scored two runs on a walk and a hit by pitch before Quinlan hit a bases clearing double, scoring three, to make it 6-4. The Soaring Eagles tacked on three runs in the fifth and three runs in the sixth to take a 10-6 lead heading into the seventh inning.

UC would score on a Jacob Gaboriault (Colchester, VT/Essex) sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh to make it a 10-7 ballgame. Patterson then grounded out to first base allowing Paul Joyce (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk) to trim the lead to 10-8. JT Ross (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) reached an a game saving error that helped Christian Tiffin (Sherrill, NY/VVS) make it a 10-9 game. Burillo then came to the plate and doubled home Adam Pexton (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) and JT Ross (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) for the Pioneers first walk off victory of the season.  
 
Elmira 10, Utica 5-Game 2 (Halted Top of the Sixth Inning)

Utica's Alex Rocci (Utica, NY/Notre Dame) got the start but only went one inning for the Pioneers, giving up seven hits and eight runs (seven earned) while walking two and striking out two. Dom Caccioppoli (Circleville, NY/Pine Bush ) pitched four innings allowing three hits and two unearned runs while striking out two. Matthew Fitzgerald (Clinton, NY/Notre Dame) is leading the offense going 3-for-3 with one RBI.

Conor Bawiec got the start for Elmira and pitched five innings giving up 11 hits and five runs (four earned) while striking out six. Cameron Heggie leads the Soaring Eagle offense with one hit and three RBIs.

Elmira used a six run first inning and a two run second inning to jump out to an 8-0 lead. Utica would get two back in the home half of the second to make it 8-2. UC started chipping away at the lead with a run in the third and two runs in the fourth to make it 8-5. In the last inning of play before the game halted Elmira tacked on two runs to take a 10-5 advantage.