Flemington, NJ – The Utica College baseball team swept a pair of games on opening day of the 2017 season against Yeshiva University at Diamond Nation on Sunday.  The Pioneers topped Yeshiva 13-0 in game one and came back with a 16-3 win in game two to complete the season opening sweep. UC has now started the season 2-0 for the first time since 2014. 

JT Ross (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) led the Pioneers with a 6-for-10 effort at the plate in two starts. He posted five RBIs, four stolen bases and three runs scored in the doubleheader. Jake Ryan (Kingston, NY/Kingston) went 2-for-6 with three runs and one RBI, while Tom Carrigan (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) went 2-for-8 with three runs and one RBI.  Junior transfer Ryan Keefe (Ballston, NY/Ballston Spa) and freshman shortstop Ryan Palmer (Vernon, NY/VVS) both exploded in game two.  Keefe went 4-for-5 with two runs and one RBI, while Palmer went 3-for-4 with four runs scored and two RBIs in his collegiate debut.

Utica 13, Yeshiva 0 – Game One
Freshman hurler Griffin Baur (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) did not disappoint in his debut as he struck out nine and did not allow a hit in four innings of work.  Kolbie Glionna (Hagaman, NY/Amsterdam) came on in relief and struck out six, allowing just two hits, to preserve the shut out. 

JT Ross (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBIs in game one, while Tom Carrigan (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) added a 1-for-3 effort with three runs scored and three RBIs.  Mike Fancher (Gloversville, NY/Gloversville) went 1-for-4 with four RBIs in his debut with the Pioneers. Shortstop Christian Tiffin (Sherrill, NY/VVS) went 2-for-4 at the plate with one run scored and one RBI.

The Pioneers racked up 11 hits in game one and took advantage of five Yeshiva errors to earn the convincing double-digit victory.

UC jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the third inning after an RBI single by Ross, a sacrifice fly by Fancher, and Carrigan scored on an error to give the visitors an early 4-0 lead. Utica piled on three more runs in the fourth to take a 7-0 lead.  Ross singled in the fourth inning, scoring Jake Ryan (Kingston, NY/Kingston) and Carrigan hit a triple to score Ross. 

The Pioneers put the game away with a six-run fifth inning. Tiffin had an RBI single, Fancher posted a two-RBI triple and eventually scored on an error to cap the inning. 

Ross and Tim Quinlan (Monroe, CT/Masuck) each posted three stolen bases in game one, while Brian McGuire (Herkimer, NY/Herkimer) added two of his own.  McGuire started at second base for Utica in game one and posted a 1-for-2 day with two runs scored.

Utica 16, Yeshiva 3 – Game Two
Keefe and Palmer led the offense in game two combining to go 7-for-9 with six runs scored and three RBIs as the Pioneers earned a 16-3 win. Alex Rocci (Utica, NY/Notre Dame) got the start on the mound and struck out three as he pitched four scoreless innings. Lefty Eric Sahagian (Schenectady, NY/Guilderland) pitched two innings of relief, striking out two, while Dom Caccioppoli (Circleville, NY/Pine Bush ) closed the door with two strikeouts for Utica.

JT Ross (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) continued his impressive day with a 2-for-5 effort and three RBIs in game two, while Stephen Soria (Mahwah, NJ/Mahwah) went 2-for-3 with three runs scored.

After two scoreless innings, Jake Ryan (Kingston, NY/Kingston) singled to right field in the third inning and scored Palmer to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead. Tim Quinlan (Monroe, CT/Masuck) capped the inning with a triple, scoring Tom Carrigan (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna), to give UC a 3-0 lead after three.

UC tacked on four more runs in the fourth by way of an RBI triple from Ross. The Pioneers added three more runs in the fifth inning and held a 10-3 advantage through five full innings of play.

The Pioneers put the game out of reach with a six-run seventh inning. Keefe and Soria each posted RBI singles to cap the scoring on the day.

Utica returns to action next Monday, March 13^th when the Pioneers travel to Winter Haven, Florida to kick off the Russ Matt Central Florida Invitational. The Pioneers will take on Lesley in a doubleheader at 9:30 a.m. at Chain of Lakes Field #4. UC's Florida trip will consist of eight games.