AUBURNDALE, FL – The Amherst College baseball team swept Utica College in a doubleheader on day two for the Pioneers at the Russ Matt Central Florida Invitational on Monday. Amherst topped Utica 13-3 in game one and edged the Pioneers 3-2 in game two. Utica has now lost two one-run ball games over the course of its first two days down south.
Utica senior
Tim Quinlan (Monroe, CT/Masuck) went 2-for-6 with three RBIs, one run and one walk on the day, while shortstop
Christian Tiffin (Sherrill, NY/VVS) went 3-for-7 at the dish with one RBI over the course of two games against the Mammoths.
The Pioneers saw their record fall to 0-4 on the season heading into a doubleheader against SUNY Fredonia on Tuesday.
Amherst 13, Utica 3 – Game One Final
Game one featured 20 hits and 16 runs between the two teams as Amherst came away with a convincing 13-3 victory. UC's
Tim Quinlan (Monroe, CT/Masuck) drove in all three of the Pioneer runs as he homered in the first inning, scoring brothers
Ryan Palmer (Verona, NY/VVS) and
Nate Palmer (Verona, NY/VVS), to give the Pioneers a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
Utica was able to register eight total hits in the contest, but they struggled to plate runs as the Mammoths pulled away with eight runs in innings two through four and another three runs in the sixth.
Senior
Matthew Fitzgerald (Clinton, NY/Notre Dame) went 2-for-4 on the day as he caught all seven innings of game one. Tiffin went 1-for-3, while Nate Plamer,
Ryan Palmer (Verona, NY/VVS),
Kiernan Briggs (Fort Plain, NY/Fort Plain), and
Maki Medici (Latham, NY/Shaker) each added one hit for Utica.
Mark Spina (Frankfort, NY/Frankfort-Schuyler),
Justin McKenna (Pittsburgh, PA/Plum Senior HS),
Brian Dinnen (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas) and
Michael Canino (Highland, NY/Highland) each saw time on the mound for the Pioneers. Canino did not allow a hit in one inning of scoreless ball on the hill for UC. Spina got the start for the Pioneers and allowed five runs on two hits in 2.0 innings of work.
Amherst 3, Utica 2 – Game Two Final
UC fell into an early 3-0 hole in the second inning of game two, but rallied with two runs in the top of the third inning to make it a one run ball game. Amherst was able to fend off the Pioneer comeback in the final four innings as the Mammoths came out with the series sweep.
UC's
Nate Palmer (Verona, NY/VVS) and
Christian Tiffin (Sherrill, NY/VVS) each posted second inning RBI's, scoring
Thomas Giglio (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) and
Christopher Ramsundar (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady) to account for both of the Pioneer runs in game two. Tiffin finished game two going 2-for-4 at the plate, while Quinlan posted one hit and one walk.
Matthew Leviton (South River, NJ/South River),
Charles McAllister (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker) and Thoams Giglio each posted a hit for the Pioneers.
Jake Cavanagh (Plainville, NY/King Phillip Regional) and
Brendon Sarnowski (Scotia, NY/Scotia-Glenville) each ate up three innings on the mound for Utica and did not allow an earned run. Cavanagh struck out one, but also walked eight. Sarnowski struck out two batters and did not allow a hit in 3.0 innings of work.
