Utica, NY - The Utica College baseball team is set to take on Houghton College four times in two days with doubleheaders on March 25 and 27. The Pioneers will play its home opener on March 25 with games scheduled for 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. before traveling to Houghton on March 27 for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. games. 
 
Probable Starters: Travis Grogan (Middletown, NY/Middletown) (1-1, 1.29 ERA) will make his second start of the season in game one against Houghton. Brendon Sarnowski (Scotia, NY/Scotia-Glenville) (0-0, 0.00 ERA) has been lights out in his two innings out of the pen this season as he has recorded four strikeouts against six total batters. He will make his first start of the season in game two against Houghton. Saturday's starters are TBD. 
 
Historic Weekend: With a win this weekend, Griffin Baur (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) will become the all-time record holder for wins by a Utica College pitcher. The current record that Baur tied with his win against Cazenovia last weekend was previously set by Mark Dodge (1978-79) with 13. If he steps on the mound this weekend he will make his 33rd career start for the Pioneers which would make him the all-time record holder for starts as well, a record previously set by Chris Jeffers (2011-14). Baur is 1-0 this season with a 1.29 ERA and a WHIP of .89. He has also struck out eight batters to three walks and has given up three hits in seven innings. 
 
Son is Shining: Outfielder John Son (Mellville, NY/Half Hollow Hills) was just one of the freshmen that missed their first years due to the cancellation of the season. Back as a Sophomore, Son has been making up for lost time. He's started each of the Pioneers first five games while compiling a .385 batting average in 13 at bats. Son owns a 1.163 OPS with three extra base hits and four RBI while also keeping it clean in the field so far with no errors on 11 putouts and one assist. 
 
Joey Big Bat: The UC offense has hit .297 as a team through five games. While the unit as a whole is excelling, Joe Battista (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) has been leading the charge. The former South Glens Falls standout leads the team with a .545 batting average (6-11) with three extra base hits and four RBI. With that, his OPS is through the roof as he owns a 1.597 average which also tops the team. 
 
Ole Reliable: Brian Dinnen (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas) has answered the call each time he's been turned to coming out of the pen. Dinnen has yet to allow an earned run in five innings of relief and while he owns a 1.20 WHIP, the righty has shown he can pitch well in pressure situations and prevent the runners on base from coming around. His timely outs come in all sorts of ways including his three strikeouts and two putouts from the bump. 
 
Scouting Houghton: The Highlanders have come out of the gates hot so far this season. They sit at 7-0 while putting up nearly 10 runs per game. The offense is led by Zach Parr who has hit .542 (13-24) in his seven games while also driving in eight runs and hitting one long ball. Wayne Rode and Joe Gross also help power the offense as Rode holds a .472 batting average with six extra base hits and eight RBI while Gross is hitting .381 with 10 runs scored. The pitching staff owns a 5.03 ERA while holding opponents to hitting .199. Starter Hunter Kendall is 2-0 this season with a 2.87 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and has recorded 18 strikeouts in his 15.2 innings of work. 

Up Next: UC will be out of action until April 2 when Elmira College hosts the team before the Pioneers return home the next day to host Elmira. Both days will feature doubleheaders and will start at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.