Utica, NY – The Utica College baseball team hosted St. John Fisher on Saturday for an Empire 8 Conference doubleheader. The Pioneers lost both games on the day by a score of 15-6, falling to 12-12 overall and 4-7 against E8 opponents.
 
It was Senior Day today as the 13 seniors on this year's baseball roster were each recognized and joined by their families during a short ceremony prior to the first game.
 
Game 1:
 
The first game of Saturday's set went to extra innings, as a sixth inning rally from UC led to a 6-6 tie after seven innings. In the top of eighth, the visiting Cardinals erupted for nine runs to break the tie and earn the win.
 
Tom Carrigan (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) and Matthew Leviton (South River, NJ/South River) both batted 1-for-4 with two RBI's and one run scored in game one. In the bottom of the sixth Leviton registered a hit with the bases loaded to bring in two runs and forced a St. John Fisher error during a rundown, which allowed Jacob Gaboriault (Colchester, VT/Essex) the chance to score to clear the bases. Jake Ryan (Kingston, NY/Kingston) and Matthew Fitzgerald (Clinton, NY/Notre Dame) both finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a double in the loss.
 
Griffin Baur (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) got the start on the mound for Utica, pitching six full innings and allowing four earned runs. Senior Brett Sarnowski (Scotia, NY/Scotia-Glenville) (1-3) entered in relief to start the seventh and received the losing decision on the mound. Baur and Sarnowski combined for six strikeouts in the game.
 
Fisher's Thomas Pasquale went 2-for-5 with three runs scored and three RBI's thanks to his homer in the top of the eighth. Scott Eisenmenger and Vic Konstantinovsky also hit home runs in the contest. Antony Mantova went 2-for-4 in the game with a triple, one RBI, and three runs scored.
 
Anthony Brophy started on the hill for the Cardinals, allowing six runs to score in six innings pitched. Jack Delany (2-0) took over in the seventh inning to pitch the final two innings without giving up a run or a hit. Delany received the winning decision in game one.
 
Game 2:
 
The second match of the doubleheader was controlled by St. John Fisher since the first inning. After scoring five runs in the first, the visiting Cardinals continued to score eight unanswered runs in the opening three innings. Utica put together a much needed, five-run inning in the sixth, but it was not enough.
 
Tim Quinlan (Monroe, CT/Masuck) had a strong game, finishing 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles, one RBI, and two runs scored. Ben Julian (Wynantskill, NY/Troy) connected for an RBI double in his only plate appearance, while John Franchi (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) went 1-for-2 with an RBI. Christian Tiffin (Sherrill, NY/VVS) rattled of a two RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning for his only hit of the contest.
 
Senior pitcher Alex Rocci (Utica, NY/Notre Dame) (3-3) started on the mound for the Pioneers and was given the loss after 1.1 innings of work. Jake Cavanagh (Plainville, NY/King Phillip Regional), Ryan Keefe (Ballston, NY/Ballston Spa), and Gavin McCann (Highland, NY/Highland) all spent time on the hill in this one. Cavanagh struck out two batters in 3.1 innings pitched.
 
Justin Graham was 4-for-6 at the dish for St. John Fisher with two doubles, two RBI's and two runs scored. Ryan Fahy knocked a two-run homer out of the park in the first inning, while Ryan Simmons smacked a grand slam over the fence in the seventh.
 
Cardinal pitcher RJ Kuruts (4-1) pitched for over five innings after getting the start, striking out three batters on his way to earning the win. Matt Toohey entered the game in the sixth to relieve Kuruts, giving up three hits but no runs in 1.2 innings of action. St. John Fisher improved to 20-9 overall and 8-3 against E8 opponents.
 
The Pioneers host Fisher again on Sunday for the third and final game of the weekend series. The contest is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m.