Utica, , NY – The Utica College baseball team hosted Houghton College for an Empire 8 doubleheader on Saturday. UC earned wins in both games in order to complete the series sweep, and improving its record to 9-14 overall and 5-4 in conference play.
It was Senior Day for the Pioneers, as a short pregame ceremony took place before the doubleheader began to honor the class of 2019.
Game 1
The Pioneers took the first contest of the doubleheader, 2-1, thanks to some late game heroics by
Matthew Fitzgerald (Clinton, NY/Notre Dame). Trailing 1-0 heading into the bottom of the 7
th,
Maki Medici (Latham, NY/Shaker) would reach home plate on an error to tie the game at 1-1. Fitzgerald the stepped up to the plate and connected for a walk-off double which brought in the game-winning run.
Christian Tiffin (Sherrill, NY/VVS) and Fitzgerald each rattled off one double in the game, as both players went 1-for-4 at the dish.
Tim Quinlan (Monroe, CT/Masuck) one stolen base and scored the game-winning run. Medici made contact for one hit in three at-bats and scored one run.
Jonathan Hardy (Clinton, NY/Clinton) pitched a full six innings on the mound for UC, allowing seven hits and just one run to score. Hardy struck out three batters and did not receive a decision.
Jake Cavanagh (Plainville, NY/King Phillip Regional) (1-1) entered the game in the final inning, earning the win and giving up just one hit.
Game 2
Utica started the second game of the day off strong by taking an early 2-1 lead in the first inning.
Christian Tiffin (Sherrill, NY/VVS) busted the game wide open with a grand slam in the fifth inning, celebrating senior day with his first home run of the season. Tiffin's 4-run blast highlighted UC's 11-6 win to complete a sweep of the series against the Highlanders.
Tiffin went 3-for-5 in the game with a home run, five RBI's, and two runs scored. Zachary McGettigan was 2-for-4 at the plate with one RBI and a triple. Quinlan went 2-for-4 to conclude the senior day doubleheader, while fellow senior
Christopher Ramsundar (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady) batted 1-for-2 with two runs scored.
Justin McKenna (Pittsburgh, PA/Plum Senior HS) (1-1) pitched three innings in the contest with one strikeout, receiving the win on the mound.
Brendon Sarnowski (Scotia, NY/Scotia-Glenville) started on the hill, throwing two innings before being relieved. Hayden Demers-St. Hillaire and
Joe Palmieri (West Islip, NY/West Islip) both entered the game as relief pitchers, combining for four innings of work with two strikeouts.
The Pioneers have now won four games in a row, gaining momentum in to next week. The team will get back to work on Tuesday with a road trip to Oneonta for a 4 p.m. start time.