UTICA, NY - The Utica University baseball team is set to make its way to Florida this week for the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. The Pioneers' trip begins on Sunday at 4 p.m. against Fredonia before taking on the University of Maine, Presque Isle for a pair on Monday, Ohio Northern for a doubleheader on Tuesday, before then rounding out their trip against Springfield on Wednesday.
Follow Along: Fans can go to
https://russmatt.bethebeast.com/eventliveplus and pay the $69.95 fee that grants access to each of Utica's six spring games.
Last Time Out: The team picked up its first and second wins of the season with its sweep of Yeshiva University this past Sunday.
Utica 8, Yeshiva 3
John Longeretta (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany) and
Jack Bono (Frankfort, NY/Frankfort-Schuyler) powered the offense in game one as each went 3-for-4 at the dish while Bono drove in four runs. On the mound,
Derrike Goutremout (Chaumont, NY/Lyme Central) made his collegiate debut going 4.1 innings allowing three runs on five hits with three strikeouts en route to the no decision.
Dylan Sullivan (West Orange, NJ/Columbia) earned the win with a clean 2.2 innings of relief allowing just one base runner via a walk with four strikeouts. The Pioneers jumped on the board first as a throwing error by Yeshiva in the 2nd inning allowed
Dom Fasolo (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) to come around to home from second. Utica tacked on two more runs in the 4th by way of a two RBI triple to left center by Bono. After four clean innings on the bump by Goutremout, the freshman got into a jam in the Yeshiva half of the 5th. With the bases loaded, Goutremout walked home three runs that even the score which led to his departure from the game. However, Sullivan entered and escaped the inning with the score intact at 3-3. With no action in the 6th from either team, the sides went into the 7th and final inning of game one still even at 3-3. This would be the inning that set the tone for the rest of the day for Utica.
Brendan May (McGraw, NY/McGraw) opened the inning with a single before immediately stealing second base to get into scoring position.
Joe Battista (Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls) then put the ball in play and reached base thanks to a throwing error by the Yeshiva pitcher, allowing the speedy May to come home from second. Later, Fasolo singled home Battista from second before a Bono single to center allowed Fasolo and
John Son (Mellville, NY/Half Hollow Hills), who reached base on a hit by pitch, to score to open the team's lead to 7-3. The final Utica run came on a
Nathan Yantz (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) sacrifice fly while Sullivan shut the door on Yeshiva in the home half to take game one.
Utica 27, Yeshiva 0
History was made in game two as the 27 runs scored is an all-time single-game program best, according to accessible records, breaking the previous record of 26 runs against Trine on March 14, 2017.
Kooper Knabe (Cortland, NY/Cortland) impressed in his collegiate debut on the mound, going the distance for a shutout win allowing just four hits to go with eight strikeouts and two walks.
Nathan Yantz (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) dominated at the dish, going 3-for-3 with three RBI, three runs and a home run while coming up a single shy of the cycle.
David House (Clay, NY/Bishop Ludden),
Daniel Fitzgerald (Clinton, NY/Clinton) and Joe Crossly had three RBI games as well.
Super Kooper: Kooper Knabe (Cortland, NY/Cortland) began his career with Empire 8 Pitcher of the Week, as announced by the league on Monday. Knabe impressed in his collegiate debut with a complete game shutout victory over Yeshiva on Sunday. The freshman tossed all six innings of a game that was called due to darkness in a 27-0 Utica win. Over his six innings of work, Knabe allowed just four hits while striking out eight hitters and giving up two walks.
Monsters, Inc. : Dylan Sullivan (West Orange, NJ/Columbia) also had an impressive start to his career as he was named Empire 8 Rookie of the Week, as announced by the league on Monday. The freshman made his collegiate debut in a high pressure situation in game one against Yeshiva on Sunday. He entered the game in the 5th inning inheriting a bases loaded jam and escaped with a strikeout and a ground out to second with the game tied 3-3. He completed the final two full innings without allowing a hit while striking out four and walking one en route to his first career win.
Bo Knows: Jack Bono (Frankfort, NY/Frankfort-Schuyler) fueled Utica at the dish in a 2-1 opening weekend for the team. Bono went 5-7 at the plate with three triples over three games while driving in four runs and scoring twice. His top performance came in game one against Yeshiva on Sunday where he went 3-4 with a pair of triples and four runs batted in.
It's all in the Flow: Nathan Yantz (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) was on an offensive onslaught for the Pioneers this weekend. In four at-bats Yantz tallied three hits, three runs batted in, and three runs. In those three hits he managed one double, one triple, and one homerun. His top performance came in game two against Yeshiva on Sunday where he went 3-3 in the Pioneers 27-0 victory over the Maccabees.
Fredonia: The Fredonia State Blue Devils are the first of four teams that the Pioneers will be facing down in Florida. The Blue Devils this season are 0-2 to start falling to Westminster College. Before Florida the Blue Devils will look to face off against Empire 8 opponent the Houghton Highlanders before leaving for Florida. For the Blue Devils thus far their top players offensively have been Ethan Behnke, Jake Wentland, and Matt Wojcik. Ethan Behnke so far has a .625 average, five hits in eight at-bats, three doubles, two runs batted in, and two runs. Next is Jake Wentland. Wentland thus far has a .571 average with four hits, three runs batted in, and a run scored. Matt Wojcik is the final Blue Devil batting above .400 with a .429 average. Wojcik also amassed three hits which includes two doubles, two runs scored, and one run batted in. Pitching for the Blue Devils is Nick Syposs. Syposs so far this season has pitched 4.0 innings and has accumulated a 7.00 ERA, three strikeouts, and has only allowed one base on balls.
University of Maine at Presque Isle: The University of Maine at Presque Isle Owls are 0-2 to start the season. For the Owls they look to rely on Brock Thompson on the offensive end. Brock Thompson so far this season in the Owls two games has amassed one hit, one run, one run batted in, and one homerun. Pitching for the Owls is Mason Long. Long has thrown 2.1 innings, limiting to a 6.00 ERA, and is holding teams to a .222 batting average against him. The owls will turn to these two players for the spark plug needed for them come time for Florida.
Ohio Northern University: The Ohio Northern University Polar Bears have started off their season with a 2-1 record. In three close and low scoring games the Polar Bears look to their key players to help improve their record. First up is Chase Armstrong. Armstrong has been impressive for the Polar Bears so far accumulating four hits, two runs batted in, and one run scored in just eight at-bats. Next to Armstrong is Andrew Stechschulte. Stechschulte this season is batting .375, with three hits, one run batted in, and one run scored. Pitching for the Polar Bears is Jack Hutchins. Hutchins so far is 2-0 on the season coming in relief for Ohio Northern and shutting the door for them. In 6.1 innings pitched Hutchins has a 1.42 ERA and has only allowed five hits and one run. Blake Peterson has also been a key pitcher for the Polar Bears thus far. Peterson has thrown 5.1 innings, has a 0.00 ERA, has struck out seven batters, and has only allowed one hit. Coming into Florida the Polar Bears will turn to these four players as their dogs to hold down the fort.
Springfield College: The Pride are 0-1-1 this season after dropping its first game of the season against Western New England on Monday, March 6, 7-3. The team then came back to draw even with Amherst on Wednesday, 8-8. Prior to taking on Utica, Springfield will play Muhlenberg for a pair followed by single games against Hamilton and Salve Regina. Cadin Maynard returns as one of the top bats after batting .360 with 45 hits, nine doubles, and 27 runs batted in. On the mound Blake Roberge returns as the team's veteran after logging 51.2 innings, with 42 strikeouts last season. Roberge was a reliable arm as no one else on the team logged more than 27.1 innings besides him. Returning pitchers Colby Welch, Ian Benoit, Jack DeGirolamo, Christian Peterson, and Jarrad Coyne all appeared in the team's opening game against Western New England.
Up Next: Utica will return to New York to take on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in a doubleheader on the road onb Sunday, March 19 with the first pitch in game one set for noon.
