Utica, NY – The Utica College baseball team beat Empire 8 opponent Stevens in both games of Sunday's doubleheader, by scores of 9-3 and 7-6. The Pioneers improve their record to 15-12 overall this season and 7-5 in E8 competition.
 
Game One (7 innings): Stevens scored the first run of the game, but UC answered right back with a two-run single from Christian Tiffin (Sherrill, NY/VVS) to make the score 2-1 heading into the third inning. The Ducks scored again in the third, however the Pioneers responded with three more runs to hold a 5-2 in the top of the fourth inning. Utica put together another three run inning in the bottom of the fifth in order to put the game away.
 
Tim Quinlan (Monroe, CT/Masuck) had a strong performance in the contest, as he batted 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI's. The first baseman Adam Nell ( Vernon, NY/VVS) finished 3-for-3 with two doubles, one RBI, and two runs scored. Christian Tiffin (Sherrill, NY/VVS) went 2-for-4 with one run scored and two RBI's. Baur earned the win, making his record as a starter this season 4-2.
 
Shayne Bartnick and Zeph Walters both went 2-for-4 for Stevens in the game. Walters added one RBI and one double. A.J. Falconite finished 1-for-3 with a run scored and one RBI. Quinn DiPasquale got the start for the Ducks on the mound, making his record now 2-3 after receiving the loss.
 
Game Two (9 innings):
 
Game two on the day was a much closer ball game. Utica held a 2-1 lead until Stevens got the bats going in the sixth inning. The Ducks scored four runs in the sixth, to UC's one run, in order to take a 5-3 lead heading into the seventh inning. In the top of the eighth, Stevens' Donny Gherardi added some cushion to the lead with a solo home run, making the score 6-3.
 
In the bottom of the ninth inning Tom Carrigan (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna), Tim Quinlan (Monroe, CT/Masuck), and Adam Nell ( Vernon, NY/VVS) all hit singles that brought in one run to tie the game at 6-6. Junior Jake Ryan (Kingston, NY/Kingston) then stepped up to the plate and hit the walk-off single to score the pinch runner, Derrin Lilley (Utica, NY/Proctor), from third to win the game.
 
Carrigan batted 3-for-5 in the game with one RBI, while Quinlan went 2-for-4 with an RBI and one double. The hero from game two, Jake Ryan (Kingston, NY/Kingston), went 1-for-5 with an RBI and the walk-off single to complete the comeback. Jake Cavanagh (Plainville, NY/King Phillip Regional) received the win on the mound in the game, pitching four full innings and allowing just one run to score.  Cavanagh's record improves to 2-0 now this season.
 
Donny Gherardi went 2-for-5 at the plate with two runs score, an RBI and one home run for the Ducks. A.J. Falconite finished 3-for-5 with two doubles, while Carlos Leon batted 2-for-5 with one RBI. Charlie Ruegger receieved the loss in the game, allowing four earned runs in his two innings pitched. Ruegger's record this season drops down to 1-1.
 
The Pioneers will return to action on Wednesday, April 26^th, as they will host SUNY Poly for a non-conference doubleheader. Game one of the series is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.