Utica, NY - The Utica College baseball team split Thursday's doubleheader with previously unbeaten Houghton College. The Pioneers took game one 13-6 while the Highlanders responded back with a come from behind 5-4 victory in game two. 

Game 1:

Travis Grogan (Middletown, NY/Middletown) took the mound in game one for UC and was attacked early on. Houghton pushed one run across in the first inning on a Zach Parr RBI single to take a lead 1-0 heading into the home half. The Pioneers had Grogan's back however as the team scored four times in the first, twice in the second and once in the third inning to jump out to an early 8-1 lead. 

After surrendering a run in the fourth, Grogan's command started to slip in the fifth. The Highlanders began the inning with an RBI sacrifice fly before back-to-back home runs closed the Pioneers run to 8-6. Parr took Grogan deep to left for a two RBI round trip before Jason Kauffeldt answered back with a solo shot. Kauffeld would be the final batter for Grogan as he finished throwing 4.2 innings allowing six runs (five earned) on six hits with four strikeouts on his way to ultimately picking up the win. 

The back-to-back home runs made no difference in this one for Houghton as from there on UC would outscore them 5-0 to take game one 13-6. Tyler Catalfamo (Albany, NY/Colonie) pitched the remaining 2.1 innings and faced three batters over the minimum. He didn't give up a run while only allowing one hit while striking out one, walking one and hitting one batter. 

At the dish, Matthew Fitzgerald (Clinton, NY/Notre Dame) led the charge with his 2-4, three RBI performance. Leadoff man Sean Vanegas (Bronx, NY/Mt. St. Michael) went 2-2 with two walks, two runs scored and two RBIs while Shamariah McCullough (Brooklyn, NY/Nazareth Regional), the number two hitter, wound up 2-3 with two walks and three runs scored. Joe Battista (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) also had himself three RBIs, two of which on a double to right in the fifth.

Game 2:

Brendon Sarnowski (Scotia, NY/Scotia-Glenville) made his second career start in game two as the senior was given some breathing room early in the game. After a clean top half of the first, the Pioneers offense got to Highlanders starter Ryan Newton for four runs. 

Daniel Parslow (Fonda, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) started it by reaching on an infield error which scored McCullough from third. Two batters later, Battista doubled to deep right center which scored Parslow from second and advanced John Son (Mellville, NY/Half Hollow Hills) to third. Son scored on a passed ball which advanced Battista to third and allowed him to score on a Jason Story (Hilton, NY/Hilton HS) groundout to first during the same at bat. 

The game remained 4-0 until the fourth inning with one out. A throwing error pushed across the first Houghton run which was followed by a hit by pitch, ending Sarnowski's day with the bases loaded. He was replaced by Brian Dennin after 3.1 innings. The first batter Dinnen faced, Ethan Cetton, singled to center and advanced to second on a misplay by McCullough which pushed across all three men on base, tying the game at four. Each of those runs were Sarnowski's responsibility as he completed his line with four runs allowed (three earned) on three hits while retiring five via strikeout. 

The go-ahead run came in two batters later off of a Joe Gross single to right, making it 5-4 Houghton. That Pioneers threatened in the sixth inning however, Story was stranded at third after Noah Barber (Cortland, NY/Cortland) flew out to right. UC was retired in order in the seventh as they fell in game two 5-4. 

Newton hurled a complete game for Houghton while Justin McKenna (Pittsburgh, PA/Plum Senior) and Donovan Felder (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton) were the final two of four total Pioneers arms used in game two. Son was the only UC player with multiple hits in game two as the sophomore went 2-3 with a run scored. As a team the Pioneers recorded five hits and left four men on base. 

UC and Houghton will meet again on Saturday for another doubleheader while the Pioneers hit the road this time around. Game one is slated for 1 p.m. and the second game is set to have a 3 p.m. first pitch.