Flemington, NJ – The Utica College baseball team opened its season on Sunday against Yeshiva University at Diamond Nation Field. The Pioneers started off the year 2-0, after winning both games of the doubleheader by scores of 14-6 and 20-1.
 
Game 1:
 
UC won its first game of the season behind a six-run first inning, to secure the 14-6 victory.
 
The third baseman, Tim Quinlan (Monroe, CT/Masuck) started off the season with a bang in game one of the day. He went 2-for-4 at the plate with one double, one homer, and 4 RBI's. Quinlan wasn't the only Pioneer to go yard in the contest, as Adam Nell (Vernon, NY/VVS) rattled off a solo home run in the fourth inning. Tom Carrigan (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) recorded two hits during his three at-bats in game one, as he connected for a double and scored three runs for UC.
 
Griffin Baur (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) received the start on the mound, pitching three full innings and allowing just one earned run. He tallied six strikeouts, including a one-two-three inning in the second where he struck out the side. Teammate Mark Spina (Frankfort, NY/Frankfort-Schuyler) entered the game as the relief pitcher during the fourth inning. Spina earned the decision, starting the 2018 season with a 1-0 record.
 
Yeshiva's shortstop, Shmuli Goldis went 2-for-4 at the plate, scoring two runs for the Maccabees. Goldis drove in the team's first run in the top of the third, as he singled to center field. Mordechai Cohen connected for a single on his only hit of the game, which brought in two runs for Yeshiva.
 
Aryeh Salovey got the start at pitcher, receiving the loss after allowing nine earned runs. Cohen took over on the mound in the second inning, pitching 3.2 innings and striking out three batters.
 
Game 2:
 
The Pioneers swept the two-game series on Sunday, winning in dominant fashion in game two with a score of 20-1.
 
Tom Carrigan (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) was one of three players to knock in 3 RBI's in the contest, as he finished 2-for-3 at the plate which included a two-run homer in the second inning. Matthew Yozzo (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro) also homered in game two, knocking a 3-run shot over the fence in the seventh. Matthew Fitzgerald (Clinton, NY/Notre Dame) made good on all three of his registered at-bats, driving in 3 RBI's in the process.
 
Senior pitcher, Alex Rocci (Utica, NY/Notre Dame) began the game on the mound and received the winning decision to start the season with a 1-0 record. Rocci allowed just one hit and no runs to score in three innings of action. Brett Sarnowski (Scotia, NY/Scotia-Glenville) had the ball in his hands for the final two innings, giving up no hits or runs while striking out six batters.
 
Yeshiva recorded just four hits as a team in the contest, resulting in one run scored. Chaim Rosenburg went 1-for-2 at the plate, registering the sole RBI for the Maccabees. Sonny Braha was given the loss as the team's pitcher, as he surrendered seven earned runs in 1.1 innings pitched.
 
The Pioneers head back to Diamond Nation Field in Flemington, NJ next weekend for a three-game series against Centenary University. The teams will play a doubleheader on Friday before closing out the weekend with game three on Saturday.