UTICA, NY - The final homestand got underway for the Pioneers today as they engaged in the first of four battles on their home soil to end the regular season. Facing off with the Fighting Tigers of SUNY Cobleskill, the orange and blue pulled through despite battling fatigue during their fourth game in four days. Christopher Reese (East Fishkill, NY/John Jay) had a stellar showing in his first career start, holding the line long enough for the Pioneer offense to arrive and grab an explosive 16-14 win over their non-conference foe.
 
The Fighting Tigers struck first in the matchup, scoring the first three runs in a game that would eventually end with a combined score of 30. A few Pioneer mishaps in the opening frame gave Cobleskill the quick start they were looking for, as they capitalized with two hits and generating two hits to grab the early lead.
 
Reese settled in after the initial Fighting Tiger fireworks though, allowing just two more runs in his next four innings of work. The freshman threw well in the midweek matchup, only giving up two earned runs and striking out three Cobleskill challengers. Reese earned the win thanks to his five-inning effort, grabbing his first career victory as a part of the Pioneer program.
 
In the bottom of the third, the hosts' offense came alive in a big way. The Pioneers mounted a massive comeback in the third frame, using three hits and a handful of walks to score nine runs in a big crooked frame. Jacob Scalise (Utica, NY/Whitesboro) and Lance Berger (Lindenhurst, NY/Saint Anthony's) each recorded 2-RBI singles in the inning to help the havoc. Scalise and Berger would tie for the team lead in RBIs on the day, equaling Justin Mazovec (Lake Grove, NY/Centereach), with all three players producing 3-RBI performances.
 
Utica would tally nine runs in the third, taking a 9-3 lead and beginning a streak of three straight frames where the team would manage to plate runs.
 
In the fourth, Mike Rockwell (Liverpool, NY/Cicero) would reach on an error before Josh Duval (Utica, NY/Proctor) notched a single to create a scoring opportunity. After an errant pickoff attempt sailed high at first base, Rockwell and Duval moved over to third and second respectively. A wild pitch on the ensuing delivery would score Rockwell for a single tally in the fourth.
 
In the fifth, the orange and blue plated three runs thanks once again to the superb bat of Scalise. Steve Sclafani (North Massapequa, NY/Farmingdale) and Justin Mazovec (Lake Grove, NY/Centereach) both reached base thanks to a pair of consecutive hit by pitches to lead off the inning. Scalise then chopped a ball out into right field to plate the former, getting a big double. Mazovec would cross a few batters later courtesy of Lance Berger (Lindenhurst, NY/Saint Anthony's), while Scalise would get home thanks to Rockwell.
 
SUNY Cobleskill now faced a 13-5 deficit, one they'd come very close to erasing as they managed to record runs in all four of the final few innings.
 
Despite their late rally, the Fighting Tigers couldn't make up ground thanks to a gigantic three-run bottom of the eighth. In the pivotal inning, the Pioneers scored all their runs with two outs, using some clutch hits from Sclafani and Mazovec to re-establish the wide gap. They would end up needing every single run, as Cobleskill made it interesting during the ninth. Reliever Kody Czternastek (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) found his way out of danger in the final frame, leaving the tying run stranded on base as the team took a big non-conference victory.
 
Utica improved to 18-13-1 on the year. They will battle Brockport tomorrow to begin their final series of the season. That game will begin at 1:00 PM