UTICA, NY – The Utica University baseball team closed out its Empire 8 weekend series against Houghton University on Saturday afternoon, taking both ends of the Senior Day doubleheader to complete the three-game sweep. The Pioneers followed up Friday's victory with a 7-2 win in game one on Saturday, then secured the series with a 7-3 win in the finale.
Saturday - Game One
The Pioneers leaned on dominant pitching and timely hitting to take game one by a score of 7-2.
After conceding an unearned run in the first inning, the Pioneers responded in the third. Taking advantage of a Houghton error,
Micah Fiorello (Brooktondale, NY/Ithaca) delivered an RBI double before
Mike Rockwell (Liverpool, NY/Cicero) followed with a run-scoring single to cap a three-run inning and give Utica a 3-1 lead.
The Pioneers continued to build their advantage in the middle innings.
Ty Montrose (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro)—who has been red-hot at the plate—drove in a run with a single in the fourth, and Utica added two more in the sixth as
Lance Berger (Lindenhurst, NY/Saint Anthony's) ripped an RBI double, which Montrose followed with another run-scoring base hit to extend the lead to 6-1.
Utica tacked on an insurance run in the eighth inning, with Montrose once again coming through with an RBI single to push the lead to 7-1.
On the mound,
Brady Leichtman (Bay Shore, NY/St. John the Baptist Diocesan) was outstanding, tossing 8.1 innings while allowing just two runs (one earned) and striking out an incredible 11 batters. The rookie hurler increased his total to 39 strikeouts in just 35 innings this season.
Connor Ford (Swedesboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) recorded the final two outs to seal the victory.
Montrose led the offense with three hits and three RBIs, while Berger added a pair of doubles and an RBI. Rockwell and Fiorello also contributed key hits as the Pioneers totaled 10 in the opener.
Game Two
The Pioneers completed the sweep with a 7-3 victory in the series finale, using a late offensive explosion to pull away.
Houghton jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, capitalizing on an error and utilising some clutch batting to once again strike in the opening frame. The Pioneers chipped away in the third inning, scoring on a wild pitch, and tied the game in the fourth when
Kody Czternastek (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) delivered an RBI single to make it 3-2.
After Houghton added a run in the fourth to regain a 3-2 advantage, Utica continued to grind at the plate, eventually breaking through in the seventh inning.
The Pioneers' offense erupted for five runs in the frame.
Ryan Smith (Wappingers Falls, NY/Beacon High School) and
Mike Rockwell (Liverpool, NY/Cicero) reached to start the rally before
Wyatt Beadle (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls) delivered a clutch game-tying RBI single. Moments later,
Jacob Scalise (Utica, NY/Whitesboro) came through with a two-run single to give Utica the lead. Czternastek followed with another RBI knock, and a Houghton error allowed an additional run to score as Utica surged ahead 7-3.
On the mound,
Tyler Brown (Sayville, NY/Sayville High School) was excellent in relief, earning the win with five shutout innings while allowing just two hits and striking out one.
Dean Ennis (Middle Island, NY/Longwood) started the game, working four innings and allowing three runs (one earned) while battling through early traffic.
Offensively, Czternastek and Scalise each drove in two runs, while Rockwell recorded a multi-hit game and scored during the pivotal seventh-inning rally. The Pioneers drew seven walks and capitalized on Houghton miscues to fuel the comeback effort.
With the sweep, the Pioneers improve to 17-12 overall and 8-7 in Empire 8 play, creating some separation between themselves and the playoff bubble. The team will battle Keuka on Tuesday afternoon with a chance to all but cement their spot in the Empire 8 Tournament. That game will take place over in Keuka Park at 3:00 PM Tuesday afternoon.
