THROGGS NECK, NY - The Utica University baseball team split the Sunday doubleheader with Maritime taking game one 12-2 (7 Inn.) and the Pioneers winning game two 9-4 (7 Inn.) to collect their first win of the new campaign.
 
Maritime 12, Utica 2 (7 Inn.)
 
Andrew Salbinski (Essex, CT/Valley Regional) led the offense going 1-for-2 with a pair of RBIs coming off a home run blast in the 5th inning. Jason Story (Hilton, NY/Hilton) also went 1-for-2 and slapped a double down the left field line. Micah Fiorello (Brooktondale, NY/Ithaca) had one hit in the contest, roping a single in the 5th inning as well.
 
Frederick Callo Jr. (Milton, NY/Marlboro) got the nod for Utica yet could not get out of the second inning with a final line of one inning, five earned runs, on three walks, with one strikeout, four wild pitches, and a hit batter while being credited with the loss.
 
Justin Notargiacomo (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) went three innings allowing six hits, six runs, five earned, with three walks, and three strikeouts. Jonathan Rivera (West Palm Beach, FL/Palm Beach Central) pitched one inning allowing one unearned run on one hit with one walk. Austin Rhodes (Wappingers Falls, NY/Kennedy Catholic) closed out the game on the mound pitching a clean inning with no hits and one punchout.
 
After a clean 1st inning Maritime had a huge inning posting seven runs in the 2nd to grab a quick 7-0 lead. The Privateers tacked on four more runs in the 4th with a pair of home runs in the inning to hold an 11-0 lead.
 
Utica turned in its best inning of the day in the 5th with three hits. Story roped a double down the left field line and was then driven in by a Salbinski homer to put Utica on the board with a pair of runs. Fiorello also singled in the inning yet was stranded. Maritime tacked on a run in the bottom of the 5th and after five innings of play Utica trailed 12-2 which would be the final score of the contest.
 
Utica 9, Maritime 4 (7 Inn.)
 
The Pioneers bats were scorching, tallying 12 hits while its pitching was also great allowing just four hits. Joe Crossley (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro) led the way going 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. Jason Story (Hilton, NY/Hilton) turned in another fine outing going 2-for-3 with a homerun, one RBI, and a team-leading four runs.
 
John Longeretta (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany) and Tyler Jennings (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) each recorded a pair of hits with Jack Scanlon (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute), Dom Fasolo (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro), and Lance Berger (Lindenhurst, NY/Saint Anthony's) having one.
 
Aidan McCue (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park) picked up the win going three innings, allowing four earned runs, on three hits, with four walks and a pair of strikeouts. Peyton Newton (Weedsport, NY/Weedsport) pitched one inning issuing a walk and punching out one. Connor Ford (Swedesboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) dazzled, working three innings and allowing just one hit while striking out one to earn the save.
 
Longeretta singled to start the 2nd inning with Story getting hit by a pitch and Berger singling to load the bases with no outs. Jennings and Crossley had the clutch hits, each singling home a run to give the Pioneers a 2-0 edge. Yet, Maritime responded with a double in the bottom of the inning to knot the score at 2-2.
 
It was a high scoring 3rd inning for both teams. The Pioneers bats continued to produce with Scanlon, Fasolo, Longeretta, and Story all singling in the inning. Longeretta, Berger, and Kanyuk each earned RBIs to put Utica up 5-2. But it was Crossley who delivered the big hit, bringing home Berger and Story on a double to left field to push the lead to 7-2. The Privateers responded tacking on two runs in the bottom of the inning to trail 7-4 after three.
 
Utica tacked on another run in the 4th with Story homering to right field to lead 8-4.
 
It was a quiet 5th and 6th inning for both squads before the Pioneers added another run in the 7th with Jennings singling home Story for his fourth run of the day. Ford shut the door in the bottom of the inning for Utica to earn its first win of the season 9-4.
 
Utica (1-2, 0-0 Empire 8) will remain on the road and face New Jersey City University on Saturday, March 2 at 11:30 a.m.