PITTSFORD, NY - The Pioneers battled their rival St. John Fisher for the second consecutive day on Sunday afternoon, engaging in a pair of contests with massive playoff implications. The orange and blue managed to secure a key split during the two-game set, capturing a crucial victory in the first game by an 8-7 score before falling in a raucous rubber match by a 10-9 final in Sunday's second game.
 
The Pioneers fell behind early in both games but mounted a duo mid-game comebacks to take late leads like they'd already done in many matchups so far this season.
 
Kody Czternastek (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) and Ty Montrose (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) supplied the firepower for the offense on Sunday, with each player grabbing four hits in the pair of contests. Montrose also accrued a team-high four RBIs in the two-game set, launching a solo shot in game one to help achieve that tally.
 
Montrose tied for the team lead in runs scored with Lance Berger (Lindenhurst, NY/Saint Anthony's), as both players crossed home three times during the Sunday series. Berger also belted a homer of his own, getting the scoring started in game one with a solo launch.
 
Josh Duval (Utica, NY/Proctor) and Tanner Warren (Mohawk, NY/Central Valley Academy) grabbed three RBIs each to help power the Pioneers, with Berger, Czternastek, and Steve Sclafani (North Massapequa, NY/Farmingdale) each logging two RBIs.
 
Justin Mazovec (Lake Grove, NY/Centereach) also had a standout showing, recording a trio of hits along with an RBI in the duo of dustups.
 
On the mound, Kooper Knabe (Cortland, NY/Cortland) started the first outing, eating up 4.2 innings and doing just enough work for late-game leader Peyton Newton (Weedsport, NY/Weedsport) to finish the job. Newton went 2.1 innings, allowing just two hits and two earned runs on his way to yet another last second victory.
 
Dean Ennis (Middle Island, NY/Longwood) also did some excellent work during the second game, posting solid totals of 3.1 innings pitched along with just two earned runs and three strikeouts.
 
In game one, a five-run third inning allowed the team to erase an early 4-1 deficit. Montrose opened the flood gates in the Pioneers' big frame, cashing in a big run and notching one of his team-leading four base hits on the day. Berger grabbed the next run in the inning, getting a sacrifice fly to tally his second RBI of the contest after launching a solo shot earlier in the game. Montrose and Berger each had a pair of RBIs in game one, tying for the team lead in cash-ins with Duval and Czternastek also posting two in game one.
 
The Pioneers managed to lead 7-4 after the fourth inning thanks to a solo shot from Montrose, needing just a few shutout frames to end the action in the first outing. Utica turned to closer Peyton Newton (Weedsport, NY/Weedsport), who attempted to shut the door once again and get the team their first victory over Fisher since 2022. The Cardinals clawed back, tying the game at 7 apiece heading into the seventh inning. However, a clutch run in the top half of the inning allowed Newton to close out his third win of the season, clinching an 8-7 victory and improving his record to 3-0, an outstanding amount for the Pioneers' closer.
 
Jacob Pian (Stony Point, NY/North Rockland) walked to lead off the seventh, with Tommy Ziskin coming in to pinch run. An error on the ensuing play allowed ZIskin to reach third, where he'd eventually grab the game-winner thanks to a sacrifice fly from Duval. That run, combined with Newton's dominance in the bottom half of the inning, led the Pioneers to a big win.
 
In game two, the Pioneers piled up an incredible 14 hits, erasing yet another early deficit as they used a four-run sixth inning to knot the game up at 6-6. The team also saw six batters notch multiple base knocks in the rubber match, with Mazovec, Warren, Rockwell, Montrose, Czternastek, and Sclafani each nabbing two hits in the second game.
 
Warren also accrued a team-high three RBIs in game two, with Montrose, Czternastek, and Sclafani each logging two RBIs.
 
The offensive explosion by the team allowed them to eventually grab a 9-7 advantage heading into the final ups, although Fisher managed to mount a comeback of their own to take game two in the eleventh hour.
 
Despite the setback in the second matchup, the Pioneers will carry lots of momentum into next week thanks to their outstanding offense paired with a productive appearance in relief for Dean Ennis (Middle Island, NY/Longwood). The Pioneer newcomer slowed the Cardinals during the middle innings of game two, tossing 3.1 innings while allowing just two earned runs and also achieving three strikeouts.
 
The Pioneers moved to 12-8-1 with the split. They sit at a 7-4 record in the Empire 8, occupying the four spot in the Empire 8 standings. They'll have an opportunity to make up some ground next week with a pair of games against Russell Sage coming up on Wednesday. The team will complete their second meeting of the season versus the Gators with the first matchup on Wednesday being a restart from earlier this season. That game will start in the fifth inning with the score tied at 7-7. Wednesday's second matchup will be a normal nine-inning contest.