HOUGHTON, NY - Another day, another come-from-behind victory for the Utica Pioneers.
 
In an impromptu midweek matchup, the Pioneers headed down to Houghton, New York to complete the season series against the Alfred University Saxons. Much like the second contest this season between the two squads, the Pioneers fell behind early in the action, with Alfred using a three-run third inning and a four-run fifth inning to take a 7-1 lead midway through the game. It was entering that back half that the Pioneers flipped a switch though, using a sixth inning barrage to plate 11 runs in the frame and grab a 13-7 lead heading to the seventh. The team secured seven hits and used three errors to notch the crooked number during that sixth inning. They proceeded to capitalize on the momentum during the seventh and eighth innings, grabbing two runs in each frame to run-rule the Saxons by a 17-7 final just before the ninth arrived.
 
The Pioneers as a unit finished with 17 total hits and 11 walks, reaching base safely an outrageous 28 times. Six orange and blue batters also recorded multiple base knocks in the contest. Jacob Scalise (Utica, NY/Whitesboro) led the Pioneers in the RBI category, cashing in four thanks in large part to a three-RBI double during the sixth inning. Mike Rockwell (Liverpool, NY/Cicero) wasn't too far behind though, grabbing three RBIs of his own including a two-RBI rocket to left center which sealed the deal for Utica in the eighth inning. Justin Mazovec (Lake Grove, NY/Centereach) and Jacob Pian (Stony Point, NY/North Rockland) each added two RBIs of their own as well.
 
Pian, in addition to his multiple cash-ins, also tied for the team-lead in hits with three. Pian managed to cross home three times in the contest, earning the game-high for most runs scored.
 
Tying Pian atop the Pioneer hit column was rookie sensation Ty Montrose (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) who managed to make his mark on both sides of the ball. While at bat, Montrose managed to grab an RBI in addition to the trio of base knocks. Along with his solid offensive numbers, Utica's main utility man toed the slab for the final three innings of the game, being rewarded for an outstanding relief effort with his second win of the season. Montrose's entry to the mound coincided with the Pioneers' change of pace in the game, as the Whitesboro native managed to roll through the Saxon lineup during his three innings of work. Two-way Ty allowed just two hits in his three innings, shutting out the Saxons while also racking up five K's. His pitching prowess powered the Pioneers to the finish line, with the team keeping the lead in the race for the Empire 8's four seed.
 
The team improved to 17-13-1 on the season, grabbing their fourth Empire 8 win in a row to advance to 12-9 in the league. They reside in fourth with 24 points, six ahead of their next closest challenger in the Houghton Highlanders. Utica will face Brockport this weekend while Houghton will take on St. John Fisher. Both series will be three games and with either a single Pioneer win, or a single Highlander loss in the dueling three-game sets, the Pioneers will clinch the number four seed. Before that though, the team will take on SUNY Cobleskill tomorrow afternoon in Utica at 4:00 PM.