Utica, NY – The Utica College baseball team will host Hamilton College on Tuesday for the annual Jackie Robinson Game. This contest is scheduled to begin at 4:15 p.m.
 
Jackie Robinson Game: This year will mark the 31st annual Jackie Robinson game between the Utica College Pioneers and the Hamilton College Continentals. Starting back in 1987, the two schools have played each other once every year in a game dedicated to the great Jackie Robinson in honor of him breaking through major league baseball's color line. Utica currently holds a slight edge in the history of this event, with a 16-14 record over Hamilton in Jackie Robinson games.
 
Last Year's Result: The Continentals earned the win, 12-3, in last year's game thanks to a seven-run inning in the fourth. Matthew Leviton (South River, NJ/South River) knocked in one RBI with his double in the ninth, while Jacob Gaboriault (Colchester, VT/Essex) was 1-for-2 at the plate with a double and one run scored. Hamilton's Jordan North and Brett Mele combined for a 6-for-9 effort at the plate with six RBI's, two doubles, and two triples in the contest. See further below for details on other past Jackie Robinson games.
 
Hitting Leaders: Matthew Fitzgerald (Clinton, NY/Notre Dame) and Ryan Palmer (Verona, NY/VVS) are both top ten hitters in the Empire 8, as they lead UC with batting averages of .367 and .364 respectively. Tim Quinlan (Monroe, CT/Masuck) leads Utica with 25 RBI's and is second in the conference with his five home runs. Quinlan is joined by teammate Tom Carrigan (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) as the leaders of the team with 10 doubles apiece. Jake Ryan (Kingston, NY/Kingston)'s team-best of three triples on the year ranks tied for second in the league.
 
Pitching Staff: Griffin Baur (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) (4-2) has spent 39.1 innings on the mound this season and struck out 34 batters in the process. Baur is holding batters that face him to a batting average of .260. Senior Alex Rocci (Utica, NY/Notre Dame) (3-3) has tallied 13 strikeouts, while getting seven starts on the hill. Justin Shabman (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Kennedy Catholic) owns the pitching staff's top ERA of 3.00 and leads the team with two saves. Shabman has struck out 14 opposing batters, while holding the opposition to a batting average of .250.
 
Scouting Hamilton: The Continentals are 15-17 overall heading into this year's Jackie Robinson game. The team is on a three-game losing streak after being swept by Middlebury in a recent three-game series. Matt Zaffino is Hamilton's top hitter, with a batting average of .345 to go with his team leading tallies of three homers and 19 RBI's. Juniors James Nish and Craig Sandford have each knocked in 13 RBI's on the season. Gavin Schaefer-Hood (4-4) leads the Continentals' pitching staff with 35 strikeouts on the year, while teammate Chris Keane holds a record of 4-1 on the mound. Ian Nish leads all Hamilton pitchers with six saves this season.
 
Looking Ahead: The Pioneers head to Canton, NY on Friday for the final series of the regular season. The team will face SUNY Canton for some E8 action beginning at 3 p.m. Friday, before finishing the set with a doubleheader Saturday that starts at 12 p.m.
 
 
JACKIE ROBINSON ALL-TIME RESULTS:

Year  Result                           Utica MVP/Hamilton MVP
2017 Hamilton 12, Utica 3     JT Ross (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills)/Brett Mele
2016 Hamilton 19, Utica 9     Dom Caccioppoli (Circleville, NY/Pine Bush)/Cole Dreyfuss
2015 Utica 16, Hamilton 5     Brandon Thomas/Ryan Wolfsberg
2014 Utica 3, Hamilton 1        Ryan Watson/Alex Pachella
2013 Hamilton 6, Utica 1       Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn)/Colin Henneberger
2012 Utica 7, Hamilton 6 (10 inn.) Vincent Burillo/Sam Choate
2011 Hamilton 4, Utica 0        Terrence Reyes (UC)
2010 Utica 11, Hamilton 10    Anthony Di Salvo (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville)/Daniel Kroening
2009 Hamilton 19, Utica 5      Adam Bittel (New Hartford, CT/Northwestern Region)/Gideon Clark
2008 Hamilton 11, Utica 7      Scott Tagliaferi/Dan Hood
2007 Cancelled (Weather)
2006 Utica 15, Hamilton 8      John Tine/John Porges
2005 Hamilton 15, Utica 9      Bill Demma/Paul Kibbe
2004 Utica 12, Hamilton 3      Corey Rando/Pat Suarez
2003 Utica 7, Hamilton 4        Chris Smith (Gloversville, N.Y./Gloversville)/Jack Halas
2002 Hamilton 7, Utica 6        Chris Smith (Gloversville, N.Y./Gloversville)/Mike Murphy
2001 Hamilton 13, Utica 5      John Miller/Semmie Taylor
2000 Hamilton 7, Utica 4        Joe Hess/Brian Grady
1999 Hamilton 14, Utica 9      Josh Sexton/Dino Mazzota
1998 Hamilton 11, Utica 8      Kevin Glorioso/Tim Fazio
1997 Utica 18, Hamilton 12    Scott Morris /Steve Schott/Mike Peroni
1996 Utica 5, Hamilton 0        Matt Mortier/Mike Perlman
1995 Hamilton 10, Utica 2      Jeremy Mohat/Ryan Christ
1994 Utica 14, Hamilton 0      Guido Martini/Ryan Christ
1993 Hamilton 7, Utica 3        Guido Martini/Ryan Christ
1992 Utica 9, Hamilton 8        Luke VanDreason/Scott Imler
1991 Utica 10, Hamilton 1      Colin Griffin/James Potter
1990 Utica 5, Hamilton 3        Tim Maciag/Marc O'Brien/Glenn Fusonie
1989 Utica 3, Hamilton 2        Jim Kozak/Peter Wymard
1988 Utica 11, Hamilton 6      Marc O'Brien/John Martello/Andy Ryan
1987 Utica 12, Hamilton 3      Karl Brenon/Jim Korfonta