DUNMORE, PA - After a scorching hot start to the season, the Utica Baseball team picked up another pair of convincing wins against Penn State Scranton on Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers went a perfect 4-0 on the weekend, giving the team good momentum as they prepare for their trip down to Florida for the RussMatt Invitational. 

The Pioneers won game one by a score of 18-6 and won game two by a score of 15-8. Utica scored a combined 33 runs on 29 hits to follow up the 31 runs on 21 hits tallied the day prior.

GAME ONE

The Pioneers controlled the momentum of the matchup right from the first pitch, as the offense blasted three home runs in the top of the first inning. First, Ty Montrose (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) cleared the right field fence for a three-run homer, and he was followed by back-to-back jacks courtesy of Matt Paolucci and Gianluca Logan.

Montrose finished out the game 2-6, as he blasted another home run later in the third inning to increase his final RBI tally to six. Paolucci finished the game 3-3 with three RBIs before being subbed out, and Logan finished 2-2 with two RBIs before also being subbed out. Eric Schulteisz (North Babylon, NY/North Babylon) also turned in a solid performance, going 2-4 with four RBIs of his own.

On the mound and earning the win for the Pioneers in game one was Michael Flint (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy), who went four innings, giving up four hits and striking out five batters. He then gave the ball over to Dean Ennis (Middle Island, NY/Longwood), who threw an inning, striking out two. Justin Notargiacomo (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) finished out the remaining two innings of the game, giving up one hit and striking out five in an impressive showcase.

GAME TWO

In game two for Utica, the offense took a bit of time to come around, scoring one run early in the top of the first before ultimately exploding for 14 runs in the last five innings of play. The Pioneers were led by Mike Rockwell (Liverpool, NY/Cicero), who finished his game going 4-4 with seven RBIs and hitting for the cycle, a rare achievement.

Also turning in great performances were Paolucci and Montrose, who both went 3-4. Kody Czternastek (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) launched the first home run of his season, ultimately finishing his day going 1-3, but drawing two walks.

Starting the game on the mound for the Pioneers was freshman Garrett Greaney (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood), who earned his first collegiate win, throwing a solid 4.1 innings, giving up six hits and striking out four. He was relieved by Tyler Brown (Sayville, NY/Sayville High School), who threw 2.1 innings and struck out two, before Luke Barrett (Mansfield, NJ/Warren Hills Regional) came in to clean up the final out of the game.

The Pioneers finish their first weekend of play with a record of 4-0, and will now have a bit of rest before heading down to Florida to compete in the annual RussMatt Invitational. The first opponent on the schedule is Concordia College of Minnesota, with the first pitch from Chain of Lakes Park in Winter Haven, FL, scheduled for 10:15 AM on Saturday, March 7th. Check out our baseball schedule page and be sure to watch out for next week's game preview for more information on the spring break games!