Utica, NY - Backed by one of the best starts of Griffin Baur's (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) UC career, the Utica College baseball team won a crucial Empire 8 matchup against Keuka College by a 10-1 score on Tuesday afternoon. 
 
While Baur dazzled from start to finish, the Pioneers' offense was also on full display. A sacrifice fly off the bat of John Son (Mellville, NY/Half Hollow Hills) gave UC a 1-0 lead after the 1st inning. In the 3rd, UC went off for five runs to give Baur a six run cushion on the hill heading into the 4th. 
 
Joe Battista (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) started the 3rd inning scoring spree with a bases loaded double to left that fell just inside the line in no man's land. Sean Vanegas (Bronx, NY/Mt. St. Michael) scored from third on the play while Shamariah McCullough (Brooklyn, NY/Nazareth Regional) was gunned down at home attempting to score from second. Noah Barber (Cortland, NY/Cortland) stepped up next and lined a double to right that brought home Son and Battista. Barber came around to score after Matthew Leviton (South River, NJ/South River) tripled to right field while Leviton was brought home on a balk before the next pitch was thrown. 
 
The Pioneers added two more insurance runs in the 6th inning by way of an error at shortstop that allowed Zac Cronk (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Central Catholic) to score from third and an RBI sacrifice fly by Son to score Vanegas. Already up 8-0, UC's final two runs came in the 7th inning when Michael Muentener (Fairview, NJ/Cliff Side Park) brought home Leviton on a sacrifice fly before Ryan Cardone (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) was able to score on a throwing error by the Keuka third baseman. 
 
Although the offense gave plenty of run support, Baur threw as if it was a tie game from his first pitch to his last. He struck out six of the first 11 batters he faced while finishing with a career-high 13 strikeouts overall. Baur tied his career-high of seven innings pitched while he allowed just four hits, all singles, and no walks. Only one baserunner advanced past first base while Baur was on the mound. The reigning Empire 8 Pitcher of the Week moved to 5-1 on the season after the win. Baur, who is the program's all-time leader in games started and wins, is now 7.1 innings away from breaking the school record for all-time innings pitched while also needing 15 strikeouts to become the program's all-time leader in punch-outs. 
 
Brendon Sarnowski (Scotia, NY/Scotia-Glenville) came on in relief in the 8th inning and finished the job for UC. Sarnowski allowed one run on one hit over his two innings while the lone run came with two outs in the 9th inning. 
 
At the plate, Battista, Cardone, Muentener and Vanegas all recorded two hits and were responsible for eight of the 11 total UC hits. With his 4th inning single, Vanegas extended his hitting streak to nine games. Son and Barber led the Pioneers with two RBIs each. 
 
UC (14-13, 7-7 E8) is scheduled to take the field again tomorrow as they host a doubleheader against Elmira College, weather permitting. Game one is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.