AUBURNDALE, FL - The Utica University baseball team wrapped up its 2026 RussMatt Spring Break slate yesterday afternoon, falling in a nine-inning thriller to a tough Drew University team. In a back and forth battle, the Pioneers would claw back from a late deficit, however, an eighth inning insurance run would prove to be the difference as Drew would take the matchup by a 5-4 final.

The Pioneers would start out hot, grabbing runs in the first and third inning courtesy of Matt Paolucci, who recorded an RBI on each play. Drew would battle back in the middle of the contest, with a 2-run 4th inning being sandwiched between one-run frames in the 3rd and 5th, making it 4-2 Drew heading into the latter stages of the game. Paolucci would strike again, knocking in Mike Rockwell (Liverpool, NY/Cicero) with an eighth inning single to cut the deficit to one. However, an insurance run for Drew in the eighth inning would be two much, as the Pioneers' one-run ninth couldn't see them reclaim the advantage.

The top of the Pioneer lineup was spectacular on the afternoon, with the first five batters combining for nine hits, four RBI, and all four runs. Paolucci, as mentioned, was extremely clutch, logging two hits and three RBI. Ty Montrose (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) would add the fourth RBI, with his crucial hit in the ninth inning almost sparking a comeback. He would also finish with two hits and a walk.

Kooper Knabe (Cortland, NY/Cortland) got his second start of spring break, doing well in his three innings of work as he allowed just two hits and one run. Brady Leichtman (Bay Shore, NY/St. John the Baptist Diocesan) would also continue to do well in relief, tossing 2 ⅔ innings while only allowing just a single hit and securing a pair of K's. 

The Pioneers fell to 7-4 on the season, but look forward to playing some more baseball back up north in the coming weeks as they're slated to face SUNY Poly in a three-game set at the newly renovated Murnane Field next weekend. Game one will take place on March 20th, while games two and three will take place on March 22nd.