ROCHESTER, NY - The Utica University baseball team was eliminated from the Empire 8 Championship contention with a pair of losses in the tournament on Friday. 
 
(1) Fisher 11, (2) Utica 6 - Final 
At the plate, Joe Crossley (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro), Dom Fasolo (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro), John Son (Mellville, NY/Half Hollow Hills), Brendan May (McGraw, NY/McGraw), Tyler Jennings (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) and Matthew Kanyuk (Mellville, NY/Hills East) each had one hit in the game, May doing so with a team best two RBIs. Jennings, Kanyuk and Steve Sclafani (North Massapequa, NY/Farmingdale) each had one RBI as well. 
 
On the mound, Ryan Cardone (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) got a no decision after going four innings allowing four runs on eight hits, two walks and a hit by pitch. He also struck out a pair. Frederick Callo Jr. (Milton, NY/Marlboro) was credited with the loss after going 2.1 innings allowing six runs on four hits, five walks and one hit batter. Connor Ford (Swedesboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) pitched the final 1.2 innings and allowed just one unearned run on two hits and a walk. 
 
The Pioneers applied pressure early in the top of the 1st. Joe Crossley (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro) singled to open the game and was moved over to second on a Dom Fasolo (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) bunt. John Son (Mellville, NY/Half Hollow Hills) stepped in and rocketed a ball down to first base, ruled an error, but was enough to score Crossley from second. Despite eventually leaving the bases loaded, Utica allowed Ryan Cardone (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) to take the mound in the bottom half with a 1-0 lead. 
 
Fisher applied pressure right back in its half of the frame, eventually putting runners on second and third with two away. However, Cardone welcomed the challenge by striking out Dominic Guccia to escape the jam. 
 
After a quiet top of the 2nd for Utica, the Cardinals evened the score in the bottom half and looked to tack on more. With runners on first and second with two outs, a base hit through the left side seemed to grant Fisher its first lead of the day. Thanks to a relay from Fasolo to John Longeretta (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany) to Matthew Kanyuk (Mellville, NY/Hills East) at home, the runner was cut down to keep the game even 1-1. 
 
The game remained 1-1 through the 3rd before Utica jumped back ahead in the top of the 4th. Matthew Kanyuk (Mellville, NY/Hills East) drove home Brendan May (McGraw, NY/McGraw) on a single and was followed by a successful squeeze play by Steve Sclafani (North Massapequa, NY/Farmingdale). However, the Cardinals responded and then some, scoring three runs of their own for a 4-3 lead. 
 
Utica came right back in the top of the 5th. May drove home a pair of runs on a base hit to center field before Tyler Jennings (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) brought home another on a sacrifice fly for a 6-4 Utica lead. Once again though, Fisher battled back. With Frederick Callo Jr. (Milton, NY/Marlboro) on the mound in relief for Cardone, the Cardinals put up four runs to go back in front 8-6. 
 
Fisher went on to tack on three more runs over the 7th and 8th innings while the Pioneers couldn't compile a comeback attempt. With the win, the Cardinals advanced to Saturday's Empire 8 Championship and with the loss, Utica was sent to play fourth-seeded Russell Sage College immediately following its defeat. 
 
(4) Sage 7, (2) Utica 6- Elimination Game Final (11 Inn.)
At the plate, John Son (Mellville, NY/Half Hollow Hills), Jason Story (Hilton, NY/Hilton) and Jack Bono (Frankfort, NY/Frankfort-Schuyler) totaled two hits, Story doing so with a team high two RBIs. 
 
On the mound, starter James Roeschlaub (Auburn, NY/Auburn) picked up the no decision after going four innings allowing two runs on eight hits and a walk. Derrike Goutremout (Chaumont, NY/Lyme Central) also threw four innings and gave up four runs, three earned, on six hits and no walks. Brendan May (McGraw, NY/McGraw), who picked up the loss, tossed the final two innings allowing one run on two hits and two walks to go with three strikeouts. 
 
Utica got off to a hot start with a four-run 1st inning. Jason Story (Hilton, NY/Hilton) drove in two runs on a single to right field before he came across to score on a passed ball. Jack Bono (Frankfort, NY/Frankfort-Schuyler) also drove in a run in the frame. 
 
Meanwhile, James Roeschlaub (Auburn, NY/Auburn) dealt to open the game with two scoreless innings. However, Sage got to the senior with a pair of runs in the 3rd to close its gap to 4-2. 
 
In the top of the 4th, though, Brendan May (McGraw, NY/McGraw) extended Utica's lead to 5-2 with an RBI base knock. Later in the 6th, the Gators evened the score with a three-run inning before a wild pitch in the Utica half put the Pioneers back on top, 6-5. 
 
Sage evened the score in the 7th on an RBI double while the next 3.5 innings turned into a pitcher's duel. 
 
Fast forward to the top of the 11th, Sage took its first lead of the game when it mattered most on a single to lead 7-6. 
 
Down to its final out in the bottom half, the Pioneers had a runner on second and two outs. On a base hit to center, Sage was able to cut the runner down at home to end the game and Utica's season. 
 
The Pioneers end their season 24-15 overall.