HOUGHTON, NY - Friday evening, the Utica Pioneers traveled down to the southern tier of Western New York for a heated series with the Houghton Highlanders in a tussle for the top 6 in the Empire 8 standings. In game one, the Pioneers claimed victory, using a three-run ninth inning to snatch the series opener by an 8-5 final. The visitors would ultimately lose steam heading into game two, as two huge innings by Houghton produced 20 runs, handing the Highlanders a 22-0 win to cap off the night.
 
Game 1: Utica 8, Houghton 5 - (9 Innings)
 
Justin Mazovec (Lake Grove, NY/Centereach) and Tanner Warren (Mohawk, NY/Central Valley Academy) each collected a trio of base hits to power the Pioneers offense in a huge victory to start off the weekend. The two batters provided some energy at both ends of the Pioneer lineup, with Mazovec reaching base four times out of the leadoff spot and Warren also getting on base four times out of the seven hole. Thanks to their eight combined times reaching base, the Pioneers had plenty of chances to knock in some crucial runs, which they did, scoring Warren three times and Mazovec twice.
 
The veteran Mazovec tied for the team-lead in RBIs with fellow batter Max Gambitta (Cortland, NY/Cortland), as each player knocked in a pair of runs. Gambitta, Kody Czternastek (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro), Jacob Scalise (Utica, NY/Whitesboro), and Lance Berger (Lindenhurst, NY/Saint Anthony's) also added an RBI each to round out the scoring hits for the visitors.
 
Pioneer ace Kooper Knabe (Cortland, NY/Cortland) fell just short of adding another win to his impressive record, tossing a productive 4.2 innings and allowing three runs while also grabbing three strikeouts. Knabe ended up just one out short of the required amount to pick up a victory, however, the Highlanders managed to tie the game late, which would have ultimately ended Knabe's win bid unless he had remained in for all nine innings.
 
Set up man Connor Ford (Swedesboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) pitched well in his 1.1 innings of work, allowing just one run while recording three of his four outs via strikeout. He came in to relieve Knabe, getting the Pioneers out of the fifth inning before stalling the Highlanders in the sixth as a segway for Newton's entry. Ford threw limited pitches in the action, meaning he might be good to go over the next few days. Neither Ford nor Knabe did enough to achieve the win for their resume though.
 
Instead, it was Peyton Newton (Weedsport, NY/Weedsport) who picked up yet another huge victory on the season. The Pioneer closer improved to 4-0 on the season, an incredible record for the preferred finisher on the mound. Newton has excelled in clutch situations, with his four wins coming as a testament to his strength while under pressure. The Weedsport native threw three full innings in game 1, allowing just one run while accruing three K's. Newton once again endured a late deadlock, seeing his team score in the eleventh hour and grab a massive win due in large part to his effort.
 
The Pioneers fell behind 1-0 after the opening frame, but a three-run second inning gave them an early lead. The two teams then fought back and forth, with alternating one-run innings keeping the score close heading into the latter half of the matchup. Houghton managed to tie things up thanks to a two-run seventh. However, dueling doubles by Berger and Warren in the ninth cemented a three-run lead for the Pioneers heading into the bottom half of the inning. Newton then slammed the door shut as the team opened a big series with an 8-5 win.
 
Game 2: Houghton 22, Utica 0 (7 Innings)
 
Two ugly innings doomed the orange and blue in the second matchup of the night. With the first pitch coming well past sunset, the team couldn't shake some visible fatigue as they fell by a lopsided score. Houghton managed to pile up 13 hits and 20 runs over a two inning span during the third and fourth, creating a massive advantage.
 
The Pioneers struggled in slugging situations, stranding 10 runners on base in the matchup with five of those being runners in scoring position. Despite getting lots of runners into scoring range, lots of strikeouts would leave the primed Pioneers on the basepaths.
 
The team will look to regroup and recapture their first game form for tomorrow's rubber match which begins at 1:00 PM. It will be a quick turnaround for the two teams after running well into the night on Friday evening. The Pioneers moved to 13-11-1 with the Friday split, remaining four points ahead of the Highlanders in the Empire 8 standings. They'll look to create some separation tomorrow with the potential to create a six-point advantage on the Highlanders who would occupy the sixth and final playoff spot with a Pioneer win. Tomorrow's series finale starts at 1:00 PM.