UTICA, NY – Utica took a 1-0 lead in the bottom half of the second inning and placed the game in the hands of its pitching staff for the rest of the way as the Pioneers came away with a thrilling 1-0 victory in Empire 8 Conference action against visiting Houghton College on Thursday afternoon. UC ace Griffin Baur (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) struck out six and allowed just three hits in 7.0 innings to pick up his 10thcareer victory in the orange and blue.  

UC's Jake Cavanagh (Plainville, NY/King Phillip Regional) performed his duties perfectly in middle relief, striking out one, in a 1-2-3 eighth inning to preserve the 1-0 lead.  Closer Joe Palmieri (West Islip, NY/West Islip) then took the ball in the ninth and shut the door with two strikeouts and a ground out to earn the save. Palmieri's five saves this season tie the school-record originally set by Mike Zmudosky who played at Utica from 1986-1988. 

The Pioneers have now won two straight Empire 8 games and improved their record to 7-14 overall and 3-4 in conference play this season. Utica and Houghton (10-11, 5-2 Empire 8) will square off again on Saturday at the UC baseball field.  The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. Utica is now 6-5 against Houghton in the last 11 meetings between the two Empire 8 programs. 

Freshman Zach McGettigan (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) lit a fire under UC at the plate as he posted a 3-for-4 day and also stole two bases.  Christian Tiffin (Sherrill, NY/VVS), Tim Quinlan (Monroe, CT/Masuck), Charles McAllister (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker), Thomas Giglio (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro), and Maki Medici (Latham, NY/Shaker) each posted one hit for the Pioneers. 
 
The majority of the offensive action took place in the bottom half of the second inning. McAllister registered a single to right center and was advanced to second after a base hit by Giglio. Christopher Ramsundar (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady) then grounded to the shortstop, who got Giglio out at second, but the ball was thrown away on the double play attempt allowing McAllister to score all the way from second base as the Pioneers took a 1-0 lead. 

Utica threatened to add to its lead in the bottom of the sixth inning and loaded the bases, but Houghton hurler Griffin Tubbs forced a two out ground out to keep the home team off the board.  The effort by Tubbs cannot be overlooked as he pitched all 8.0 innings for the visitors and did not allow an earned run. He forced 13 ground outs, nine fly outs and struck out one as his record moved to 4-2 overall on the season. 

Baur stranded five Houghton runners on the basepaths on the afternoon to maintain the shut out for the Pioneers.