Box Score UTICA, NY - Behind lights-out pitching by freshman Dylan Sullivan (West Orange, NJ/Columbia), the Utica University baseball team blanked the SUNY Poly Wildcats 5-0 on Thursday. 
 
In his first career start, Sullivan went seven scoreless innings on five hits and one walk while striking out six. Frederick Callo Jr. (Milton, NY/Marlboro) tossed the final two innings allowing no runs on one hit and walk while striking out a pair. 
 
Leading the way at the plate was the trio of Joe Crossley (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro), John Son (Mellville, NY/Half Hollow Hills) and Jason Story (Hilton, NY/Hilton), each of whom went 2-for-4. Nathan Yantz (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) and Tyler Jennings (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) each had an RBI in the win. 
 
The game was a pitcher's duel throughout the opening half of the game. Dylan Sullivan (West Orange, NJ/Columbia) allowed just three Poly hits over the first five innings of play while the Pioneers were also held scoreless over five frames. 
 
Utica had its best scoring chance snatched away in the 3rd. Andrew Salbinski (Essex, CT/Valley Regional) doubled and Steve Sclafani (North Massapequa, NY/Farmingdale) walked to open the inning however, Salbinski was picked off at second to erase the runner in scoring position. Not long after, Sclafani was thrown out at third on an outfield relay. Then with two outs and runners on second and third, John Son (Mellville, NY/Half Hollow Hills) struck out to end the inning. 
 
However, the Pioneers would strike first in the top of the 6th. Son tripled to open the inning and was immediately singled home by Nathan Yantz (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia). That would be all for Utica while Sullivan tossed a clean bottom half to maintain the 1-0 lead. 
 
The Pioneers tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the top of the 7th. With runners on second and third, Brendan May (McGraw, NY/McGraw) hit into an E5 which brought home both runners to extend the team's lead to 3-0. May eventually came home on a Tyler Jennings (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) sacrifice bunt to make it 4-0. 
 
Once again, Sullivan made it through the bottom half of the 7th with just one hit allowed as the game moved into the 8th. Frederick Callo Jr. (Milton, NY/Marlboro) came on in relief in the 8th inning following a scoreless top half by the Pioneers. After the first two hitters got on base, Callo Jr. retired the next three in a row to move the game into the 9th. 
 
Son scored on a wild pitch to put Utica up 5-0 while in the bottom half, Callo Jr. finished the job to preserve the shutout win. 
 
Utica (23-10, 13-2 Empire 8) will travel to Cazenovia College on Sunday for a doubleheader against the Wildcats. Game one is set for noon.