Box Score Houghton, NY – The Utica College baseball team lost its Empire 8 matchup with Houghton College today, 13-9, as a ninth inning rally fell short. The Pioneers held a 6-4 lead heading into the top of the sixth, but the bats of the Highlanders got hot to score nine unanswered runs on the way to a win.
 
With the bases loaded in the second, shortstop Christian Tiffin (Sherrill, NY/VVS) drew a walk on balls which allowed teammate Adam Nell (Vernon, NY/VVS) to score and kept all the bases occupied. This set up Jake Ryan (Kingston, NY/Kingston) for a three RBI triple which earned UC an early 4-0 lead. After a four-run response from Houghton, Ryan would walk in the fifth inning to allow Matthew Fitzgerald (Clinton, NY/Notre Dame) to score from third. This secured Utica a two-run lead going to the bottom of six.
 
Matthew Leviton (South River, NJ/South River) went 2-for-4 at the plate including a double on the day. Leviton walked once and touched home plate to score two runs in the loss. Jake Ryan (Kingston, NY/Kingston) finished with four RBI's, while Tom Carrigan (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) batted 2-for-5 with a double and one RBI.
 
The Highlanders did their damage in the six, seventh, and eighth innings with nine unanswered runs. Taylor Huntsman knocked in four RBI's in the contest and hit one double. Teammate David Wessells finished 4-for-5 at the plate recording two doubles, one triple, and three RBI's. Shortstop Jeremy Newswanger rattled off one double and one triple to bring in two runs for the team.
 
The Pioneers scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning, but were unable to mount a full comeback. Mark Spina (Frankfort, NY/Frankfort-Schuyler) got the start at pitcher today and was relieved in the fourth inning by sophomore Jake Cavanagh (Plainville, NY/King Phillip Regional). Cavanagh struck out three batters in just over three innings of action and was given the losing decision to push his season record to 1-1. UC's record drops to 7-6 overall and 1-2 against Empire 8 opponents.
 
Caleb Philips received the win on the mound for Houghton in this one, improving to 2-1 on the year. He entered the game in the fifth inning, relieving the starter Holden Deres, and struck out four batters in just over three innings of work. The Highlanders record jumps to 8-6 overall and 2-1 in conference play.
 
UC now prepares for another three-game series against an E8 opponent in Elmira College this weekend at home. Game one, Utica's home opener, is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start on Friday. A doubleheader will be played on Saturday to close out the series, beginning at 12 p.m.