CLINTON, NY -- The Utica College baseball team lost to local rival Hamilton College 12-3 Tuesday afternoon at Hamilton's Loop Road Complex in the 30th playing of the annual Jackie Robinson Game. The game, which is sponsored by the Mohawk Valley Frontiersmen, began in 1987 on the 40th anniversary of Robinson breaking major league baseball's color line.

Hamilton's Brett Mele went three-for-four -- singling, doubling and tripling -- and finished with four runs batted in. He was named game MVP for the Continentals (15-16), while Utica's JT Ross (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) was selected for the visitors. Utica, now 18-15, has lost three in a row headed into three key Empire 8 Conference games that will determine the Pioneers post season fate.  UC is scheduled to travel to Canton on Wednesday to take on the Roos in Empire 8 Conference play at 4 p.m.

The Pioneers still hold a 16-14 all-time advantage in 30 Jackie Robinson games.

The Continentals jumped out to an 11-0 lead after five innings, finishing with 15 hits and five stolen bases. Mele and Jordan Northrup each collected a double and triple. They both tripled in a pair of runs during Hamilton's seven-run fourth. Craig Sandford, Robert Morris and Griffin Small each hit a run-scoring single in the inning.

Chris Keane, the first of six Hamilton pitchers in the nine-inning game, earned the win to improve to 2-0. He threw two innings, allowing just one base runner (who reached on an error).

Stephen Soria (Mahwah, NJ/Mahwah) had two of Utica's eight hits. He singled home the first two Pioneer runs with a pinch-hit single in the sixth. Utica added a run in the ninth on doubles by Jacob Gaboriault (Colchester, VT/Essex) and pinch-hitter Matthew Leviton (South River, NJ/South River).

Utica's Josh Call (Syracuse, NY/Solvay) started on the mound and went 3.0 innings while allowing six hits. Noah Martin (Broadalbin, NY/Broadalbin-Perth) came on in relief and went five full innings while striking out three.

JT Ross (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) finished the day going 1-for-3 at the plate with one run scored, while Mike Fancher (Gloversville, NY/Gloversville) also posted one hit and one run scored. Ryan Palmer (Verona, NY/VVS) and Derrin Lilley (Utica, NY/Proctor) each added a hit for UC.