UTICA, NY – The Utica University baseball team delivered one of its most complete performances of the season on Friday afternoon, defeating Houghton University by a score of 14-2 in Empire 8 action at Pioneer Field to open a pivotal three-game series.
The Pioneers would improve to 15-12 on the season, also moving to 6-7 in Empire 8 play. The win put some distance between the Pioneers and Highlanders, which the orange and blue will look to expand on during tomorrow's doubleheader.
Houghton would score first, getting a quick run across against Pioneer ace
Kooper Knabe (Cortland, NY/Cortland). However, Knabe would settle in, and the Pioneers would respond in a big way shortly thereafter.
Following Houghton's opening score, the hosts capitalized on defensive miscues, as the Pioneers tied the game when
Mike Rockwell (Liverpool, NY/Cicero) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, bringing home the equalizer.
The momentum fully shifted in the fourth inning.
Ty Montrose (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) jumpstarted the offense with a solo 400+ foot blast to center field, his third of the season, before
Eric Schulteisz (North Babylon, NY/North Babylon) followed with an RBI triple. Rockwell added a sacrifice fly, and
Matthew Paolucci (Toronto, Ontario/Silverthorn Collegiate Institute) chipped in an RBI single as Utica built a 5-1 lead.
On the mound, Knabe was outstanding following Houghton's early push. The right-hander worked five strong innings, allowing just two runs (one earned) while striking out ten batters and working around traffic on the basepaths to keep Houghton at bay.
After Houghton scratched across an unearned run in the fifth, Utica delivered the knockout punch in the sixth inning.
The Pioneers erupted for nine runs in the frame, sending 13 batters to the plate. Rockwell started the rally with a two-run double, and
Lance Berger (Lindenhurst, NY/Saint Anthony's) followed with a two-run double of his own. Montrose continued his big day with a two-run double, later scoring as part of a stretch where Utica recorded nine hits in the inning alone.
Luca Logan (Bayonne, NJ/St. Peters Prep), Schulteisz, and
Kody Czternastek (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) all contributed RBI hits as the lead ballooned to 14-2.
Offensively, Montrose led the way with three hits, three RBIs, and a home run, while Rockwell drove in four runs. Schulteisz added three hits, including a triple and two RBIs, and Czternastek chipped in multiple hits and an RBI at the top of the lineup.
Ryan Smith (Wappingers Falls, NY/Beacon High School) also recorded a multi-hit performance as the Pioneers totaled 14 hits on the day.
Garrett Greaney (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) closed out the final two innings on the mound, striking out three and allowing just one hit to secure the victory. He had excellent control of his breaking pitches, causing many whiffs by the Highlanders' best players.
The Pioneers now turn their attention to tomorrow's doubleheader which gets underway at 12:00 at Pioneer Field. Prior to the matchup, at 11:15 AM, the team will honor a spectacular group of 11 seniors. Stop by Pioneer Field to show your support!
