HOUGHTON, NY - The Utica University baseball team opened up league play on Monday evening with a doubleheader at Houghton University. The Highlanders captured game one, 2-1 (7 Inn.) on a walk-off before claiming game two, 9-3. 
 
Game 1: Houghton 2, Utica 1 (7 Inn.)
Despite picking up the loss, Kooper Knabe (Cortland, NY/Cortland) pitched a gem for the Pioneers. The sophomore went all 6.2 innings and gave up just six hits and one walk with two earned runs allowed, both of which coming in the 7th. He also struck out a pair. 
 
At the plate, Andrew Salbinski (Essex, CT/Valley Regional), Antonio Martinez (Sunrise, FL/Western), Jason Story (Hilton, NY/Hilton), Josh Duval (Utica, NY/Proctor) and Dom Fasolo (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) all had one hit. Martinez drove in Utica's lone run. 
 
The Pioneers threatened runs in the top of the 1st with runners on first and second with two away. However, Story grounded into a fielder's choice as Houghton would get out of the jam. 
 
In the meantime, Knabe allowed just two base runners over the first three innings as the game moved into the fourth quickly. 
 
After a scoreless half inning from Utica, the Highlanders had their first quality scoring chance in the bottom of the 4th. A one out single and two out single gave them runners on the corners with two gone. Knabe held tough, getting the next batter to hit a dribbler back to him to escape the jam. 
 
Following an empty 5th by both teams, the Pioneers spotted Knabe a run in the 6th. With Fasolo and Joe Crossley (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro) on first and second base, Martinez stepped in and roped a single into left to bring Crossley home for the 1-0 edge. 
 
In the ensuing half inning, Knabe worked out of another jam. With the first two Highlanders reaching base on a single and a hit by pitch, the reigning Empire 8 Rookie of the Year forced a pop out, strike out and fly out to go into the final inning with Utica up by one. 
 
The Pioneers put two runners on in the top half however, could not give Knabe an insurance run as Utica would carry a 1-0 lead into the final three outs. 
 
Houghton's first two batters reach base via hit by pitch and a base knock while a ground out would put runners on second and third with two away. The next batter drove home the tying run on a ground out before the next batter walked-off the game on a single to center with two outs. 
 
Game 2: Houghton 9, Utica 3
Aidan McCue (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park) started the game on the mound and went three innings and allowed five runs on five hits and two walks. Kody Czternastek (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) threw three innings in relief and gave up three runs (two earned) on one hit and three walks while striking out four. Connor Ford (Swedesboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) pitched the final two innings and limited Houghton to one run on two hits with a strikeout. 
 
Jason Story (Hilton, NY/Hilton) belted his team-leading third home run the year to highlight a 2-for-3 day at the dish. The senior also had a walk and two RBI. Derek Holmes (Blossvale, NY/Camden) also had a pair of hits, one of which being a triple. Caden Congdon (Cortland, NY/Cortland) went 1-for-1 with a RBI while Dom Fasolo (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) had a double. 
 
Utica went quietly in the 1st inning while the Highlanders responded with one in the home half on a two out base hit. Two innings later in the 3rd, Houghton came across to score four times to lead 5-0 going into the 4th. 
 
Between the 4th and 8th innings, the Pioneers were only able to get five runners on base as the team struggled to find scoring opportunities. While Houghton also nearly had the minimum reach base over the 4th and 5th, the home team scored three more times in the 6th and once in the 8th to carry a 9-0 lead into the final frame. 
 
There, Utica scored each of its three runs on an RBI double by Congdon with no outs before Story blasted a long ball to right field with one away. Looking to muster a comeback, the next batter Holmes doubled to right field before an inning and game ending double play would happen. 
 
Utica (4-10, 0-2 Empire 8) will travel to Syracuse, NY on Wednesday for a doubleheader against SUNY Canton at Onondaga Community College. Game one is set to begin at 1 p.m.