UTICA, NY - The Utica University baseball team is set to wrap up its regular season this week with a non-conference game hosting SUNY Oneonta on Wednesday, May 3 at 4 p.m. before a critical Empire 8 series on the road against St. John Fisher on Saturday, May 6 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. The team will conclude the series on Sunday, May 7 at 1 p.m. 
 
Follow Along: Those unable to attend Wednesday's home game can tune in for live video and/or stats via https://bit.ly/2wtxUV5. Fisher will provide live video via https://bit.ly/2HB1Fes and live stats through https://bit.ly/3HognC7. 
 
Last Time Out: 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. 
 
Playoff Scenario: Utica has clinched a postseason berth and is at least a top-two seed in the upcoming E8 Tournament. If St. John Fisher beats Elmira on Thursday, Utica would enter the final weekend needing to sweep St. John Fisher to clinch the regular season title and top-seed. If Fisher loses to Elmira Thursday, Utica would need to win two games over St. John Fisher to clinch.
 
Approaching History: The team is on the brink of approaching the most wins in a season of 25 which was set in 1987. Utica currently has four games left in the regular season before beginning its postseason run. The team has scored the most runs (307) in a season in program history, is top-three in hits (353), and is second in RBIs (263).
 
You Don't' Know Joe: Joe Crossley (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro) is in the midst of a 13-game hitting streak and sports a .303 batting average. He has two multi-hit games in the past three games including four RBIs including going 5-for-8 over the past three games. His bat will be a crucial part of the team's lineup ahead of this crucial week of play.
 
Longeretta's Lumber: John Longeretta (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany) is scorching hot recording a hit in 13 of his past 14 games to raise his batting average to .354 which is third on the team. The senior has been a maestro at producing runs recording at least one RBI in 11 of his last 14 games. The Oriskany, NY native looks to keep his momentum rolling into this weekend as the team battles Fisher for the top-seed.
 
Showtime Sullivan: Freshman Dylan Sullivan (West Orange, NJ/Columbia) has been a stud for the Pioneers out of the bullpen and has earned Empire 8 Rookie of the Week twice this season including last week. Sullivan sports a 2.22 ERA over ten appearances including his lone start against SUNY Poly on April 27 where he went seven scoreless innings allowing just five hits while striking out six. The freshman is currently in the midst of a nine-inning scoreless streak. 
 
Looking at Oneonta: The Red Dragons have been enjoying a successful season with a 24-11 record, 10-5 SUNYAC record, and are nationally ranked in their respective region. The team is coming off a series win over Oswego State including an 11-9 win in its final game of the series on Saturday, April 29. Jake Barrett leads the way offensively with a .417 batting average, 43 hits, 11 doubles, four home runs, and 29 RBI. Antony Foglia and Josh Gilkey are two more reliable bats each sporting a .307 batting average or higher with 34 or more hits, and at least five hits and 10 RBI. Devin Rooney and Sean Liquori are two top arms on the mound each sporting under a 2.90 ERA, with at least 10 appearances, 48 innings pitched, and at least 37 strikeouts.
 
Scouting Fisher: The Cardinals are 23-12 this season and sport a perfect 14-0 conference record. Fisher is on a nine-game win streak and is fresh off a sweep of Elmira this past weekend. The team's offense is fantastic and is led by Noah Campanelli, Brian Norsen, and James Murphy. Campanelli sports a .487 a batting average which is .99 higher than second in the conference. Campanelli also leads the Empire 8 in doubles with 19 and has seven home runs with 37 RBI. Norsen has a .362 batting average with 50 hits, 18 doubles, eight home runs, and 41 RBI. James Murphy is the team's power bat with a .357 batting average, 50 hits, 12 doubles, and leads the conference with 14 home runs and 61 RBI. Patrick McGuire is the team's ace with a perfect 5-0 record in nine appearances with six starts. The junior has logged 35 innings allowing just 20 hits and eight earned runs with 31 strikeouts. Russell Dunlap is another reliable arm with a 4-1 record and 3.66 ERA over 39.1 innings of work. Connor McHugh is the team's workhorse logging 57 innings of work which is the most in the conference. McHugh sports a 5.84 ERA with a 7-2 record over 11 games played allowing 37 earned runs with 40 strikeouts.

Up Next: The team will play in the Empire 8 Conference Tournament beginning on Thursday, May 11 with the opponent and time to be determined.