CANANDAIGUA, NY – On Tuesday afternoon at Finger Lakes Community College, the Utica University baseball team jumped out to an early lead but couldn't hold off a mid-game surge, falling to Keuka College by a score of 11-8 in Empire 8 action.

The Pioneers came out firing, putting together one of their most explosive opening innings of the season.

Kody Czternastek (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) led things off with a single before Mike Rockwell (Liverpool, NY/Cicero) ripped an RBI triple to get the scoring started. Matthew Paolucci (Toronto, Ontario/Silverthorn Collegiate Institute) followed with an RBI double, and Ty Montrose (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) added a run-scoring single. Ryan Smith (Wappingers Falls, NY/Beacon High School) capped the four-run frame with an RBI knock of his own, giving the Pioneers a quick 4-0 advantage.

After Keuka answered with a run in the second and two more in the third—capitalizing on defensive miscues to cut the lead to 4-3—Utica responded again in the fourth. Rockwell delivered the biggest swing of the day, circling the bases on an inside-the-park two-run home run to extend the lead to 6-3.

The Pioneers added on in the fifth inning. With the bases loaded, Czternastek came through with a clutch two-run single to push the advantage to 8-4. Czternastek finished the day with three hits and two RBIs, continuing his strong presence at the top of the lineup.

Despite the Pioneers' raucous start, the game would switch momentum towards the midway mark.

Keuka erupted for seven runs in the fifth inning, taking advantage of clutch hitting, walks, hit batters, and a pair of balks to turn an 8-4 deficit into an 11-8 lead. The Wolves tallied five hits in the frame and capitalized on multiple Utica miscues to seize control.

On the mound, Michael Flint (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) got the start, going 4.1 innings while allowing seven runs (four earned). Garrett Greaney (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) took over in relief and was tagged with the loss, despite striking out five over 3.2 innings of work.

Utica's offense was held in check over the final four innings, managing just one hit down the stretch against Keuka's bullpen. The Pioneers threatened in the ninth, bringing the tying run to the plate, but were unable to complete the comeback.

Rockwell led the offense with two hits, including a triple and an inside-the-park home run, driving in three runs and scoring twice. Paolucci added an extra-base hit and an RBI, while Smith chipped in with a hit and a run driven in as part of Utica's 11-hit performance.

Defensively, four errors proved costly for the Pioneers, contributing to Keuka's ability to extend innings and fuel their decisive fifth-inning rally.

The loss moves the Pioneers to 17-13 overall and 8-8 in Empire 8 play. They'll take on Oswego this Saturday before facing Elmira in a conference matchup on Sunday.