Clinton, NY – The Utica College baseball team headed to Hamilton College on Tuesday for nine innings of non-conference action against the Continentals. The Pioneers improved to 10-7 overall on the season after walking away with the 7-2 victory.
Ryan Palmer (Verona, NY/VVS) was a big factor in the win at the plate, batting 3-for-5 on the day with a game-high four RBI's. Palmer drove in two RBI's with a single in the third inning to put UC's first two runs on the scoreboard and the team never looked back. After taking a 3-1 lead at the end of the third, the Pioneers would not give up their lead for the remainder of the game.
Tom Carrigan (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) finished 2-for-5 at the plate, scoring two runs for the team in this one. The first baseman,
Adam Nell (Vernon, NY/VVS) registered two hits in his efforts which included an RBI single in the top of the fourth.
Jake Ryan (Kingston, NY/Kingston) scored two runs and notched just one hit, by way of a triple in the fourth inning.
Alex Rocci (Utica, NY/Notre Dame) received the win for UC, making his record now 3-1 on the season.
Griffin Baur (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) got the start on the mound, pitching in just the first inning where he allowed no hits and no runs to score.
Jake Cavanagh (Plainville, NY/King Phillip Regional),
Brett Sarnowski (Scotia, NY/Scotia-Glenville), and
Justin Shabman (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Kennedy Catholic) combined for six strikeouts in a total of five innings pitched.
Hamilton's Matt Zaffino batted 2-for-5 in the contest, scoring one run in the process. Dean Rosenberg was 1-for-4 at the plate with a double and one RBI, while the first baseman Sam Rowley was 2-for-4 on the day with a triple. The starting pitcher, Ev Johnson, received the losing decision after surrendering three earned runs in just two innings of work on the mound. Johnson's record drops to 0-2 individually as the Continentals are now sitting at .500 with a record of 10-10.
The Pioneers are back on the diamond this weekend for some Empire 8 action, as they host Ithaca College for a three-game series. A doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday before the final game of the set being played at 1 p.m. Sunday.