Canton, NY – The Utica College baseball team took care of business against SUNY Canton on Tuesday, securing two more wins against an Empire 8 opponent. The Pioneers improved to 14-18 overall and 8-6 in the conference, effectively clinching a spot in the E8 Conference Tournament.
 
Completion of Game 1
Tuesday's matchup began with the completion of a game that started on April 10^th but was halted due to darkness. With the score tied at 5-5 in the bottom of the ninth inning, freshman Daryl Savage (Elmira, NY/Elmira) connected for a walk-off single which brought Tim Quinlan (Monroe, CT/Masuck) home to seal the victory. Utica took the contest by a score of 6-5.
 
Matthew Leviton (South River, NJ/South River) was 3-for-4 at the plate in the game with two RBI's and a triple, while teammate Matthew Fitzgerald (Clinton, NY/Notre Dame) went 3-for-5. Tim Quinlan (Monroe, CT/Masuck) was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Maki Medici (Latham, NY/Shaker) knocked in one RBI on a 1-for-3 effort that included a double.
 
Griffin Baur (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) (W, 4-4) jumped onto the mound upon the restart of the competition, pitching one full inning on his way to earning the win. Baur struck out two of the three outs he needed to get in the final inning.
 
Game 2
The Pioneers took early control of the second game with eight runs in the first three innings, as they coasted to a 9-1 win. UC scored three runs in the second and five more runs in the third as it busted the game wide open. The extra run was scored in the eighth inning, to help push the team into the conference tournament.
 
Chris Ramsunar was 2-of-6 in his at bats, connecting for a double and one RBI. Tim Quinlan (Monroe, CT/Masuck) went 1-for-5 with an RBI, Ryan Mulholland (Rensselaerville, NY/Greenville) was 1-for-1 with an RBI, and Thomas Giglio (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) went 1-for-1 with a run scored. As a team, UC tallied seven hits and drew eight walks at the dish.
 
Jonathan Hardy (Clinton, NY/Clinton) (W, 2-4) started on the hill and threw six strong innings where he allowed just one earned run on four hits. Hardy struck out five batters during his shift, and received the winning decision. Sean Morris (Califon, NJ/Voorhee) came into the contest in the seventh inning to finish off the game on the mound, amassing three strikeouts and giving up no runs.
 
The Pioneers have officially clinched a berth into the Empire 8 Conference Tournament with still four games remaining on the regular season schedule. UC will now face Hamilton College on Wednesday for the annual Jackie Robinson Game.