UTICA, NY – The Utica College baseball team jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the first four innings as the Pioneers topped visiting Oneonta 8-4 on Tuesday and remained unbeaten at home with a 6-0 record at the UC Baseball Field this season. Freshman second baseman
Ryan Palmer (Vernon, NY/VVS) went 3-for-4 at the plate with one run scored and one RBI, while sophomore third baseman
Tim Quinlan (Monroe, CT/Masuck) went 2-for-5 with one RBI, one run scored, and one stolen base.
Freshman pitcher
Griffin Baur (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) earned his third collegiate victory as he struck out two in 5.0 innings of shutout ball. Baur allowed just three hits as he faced 18 batters.
Quinlan got things going in the bottom of the first inning as he drove in
JT Ross (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) to give the Pioneers an early 1-0 lead.
Jake Ryan (Kingston, NY/Kingston) singled home junior catcher
Ben Julian (Wynantskill, NY/Troy) in the third to kick off the Pioneers' five-run inning.
Christian Tiffin (Sherrill, NY/VVS) added an RBI before Palmer drove in
Jake Ryan (Kingston, NY/Kingston) to hand the Pioneers a 4-0 lead.
JT Ross (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) then reached on a fielder's choice, and an error by the Oneonta catcher scored Tiffin and
Jacob Gaboriault (Colchester, VT/Essex) as the Pioneers earned a 6-0 advantage through three full innings.
Utica tacked on two more runs in the fourth inning and took advantage of seven errors by the Red Dragons to take the 8-0 lead midway through the contest.
Oneonta was able to muster four runs in the seventh inning, but
Dom Caccioppoli (Circleville, NY/Pine Bush ) came on in relief of
Brett Sarnowski (Scotia, NY/Scotia-Glenville) and closed the door to help the Pioneers win their 12
th game of the season. Caccioppoli pitched 2.2 innings and allowed just two hits while striking out one for UC.
JT Ross (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) finished the day with one hit, two RBIs and one run scored, while
Adam Nell ( Vernon, NY/VVS) also added one hit, two RBIs and one run scored. Designated hitter
Jacob Gaboriault (Colchester, VT/Essex) went 2-for-3 at the plate for the Pioneers.
Mickey Mullins led Oneonta with a 2-for-4 day at the dish.
UC returns home for a doubleheader against Hilbert College on Friday at 2 p.m. The Pioneers are in the midst of an eight game home stand.