UTICA, N.Y. — The Keuka College Baseball team split their Empire 8 Conference doubleheader at Utica University on Wednesday afternoon.

Keuka College (15-15-1, 7-8-1 Empire 8) took the first game over Utica 6-4, but could not mount a comeback in game two as they fell 13-8.

Keuka College 6 at Utica University 4

The Wolves pressured the Pioneers early. Nick Brown (Liverpool, N.Y. / Liverpool) was hit by the pitch with one out. Ryan Seales (Saratoga Springs, N.Y. / Saratoga Springs) followed with a single. Then Devon Scheidt (Brockport, N.Y. / Brockport) hit a liner back to the pitcher. He got a glove on it in self-defense but was not able to control the ball as it fell. In haste, he threw the ball away allowing Brown to score and giving Keuka a 1-0 lead. The lead would not last long, however, as Utica scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the inning to tie the game.

The Wolves got back on the board in the third, and again, it was the top of the order leading the way. Nick Brown led off the inning with a walk. He then went to third on a single by Ryan Seales. Brown scored on an RBI groundout by Scheidt. Then with two outs, Seales came home on a double by Donald Nemeth (Guilderland, N.Y. / Guilderland) to make it 3-1.

Keuka extended their lead, plating a run in both the fourth and fifth innings. Ryan Seales had an RBI single for Keuka in the fourth. Then in the fifth, the Wolves took advantage of a Utica error to score a run, pushing the lead to 6-1.

The Pioneers got two runs back in the bottom of the sixth, but the Wolves carried a 6-3 lead into the final inning. With one out in the seventh, the Wolves thought they ended the game as Tyler Lewandowski (Milltown, N.J. / Spotwood) caught a sinking liner at short and threw across to first to double-up the runner. However, it was ruled that the ball bounced before he caught it and all runners were safe. The Pioneers turned that into a run on a single and got the tying run on first base, but Spencer Brown (Feura Bush, N.Y. / Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk) finished the complete game, getting a groundout to end it with Keuka winning the opener 6-4.

Lead Wolf: Ryan Seales was involved in the offense all game for Keuka College. The senior went a perfect 3-3 at the plate and also worked a walk in his other plater appearance. He drove in a run and scored one as well.

Utica University 13 vs. Keuka College 8

The Keuka College offense started the second game much like the first. With one out, Nick Brown was again hit with a pitch. He then stole second, went to third on a passed ball, and scored on a Ryan Seales double to give the Green and Gold an early 1-0 lead.

The Wolves would continue with a single run in each of the first three innings. Shane Daley (Elma, N.Y. / Iroquois) had an RBI single in the second and RJ Murphy (Syracuse, N.Y. / West Genesee) had a sacrifice fly in the third.

However, Utica flipped the game in the bottom of the third. The Pioneers scored six runs in the inning to take the lead. They road the momentum and built a 10-3 lead after six innings.

The Wolves pulled two back in the top of the eighth on an RBI double by Ryan Seales and an RBI single by Jimmy Griffin (Syracuse, N.Y. / East Syracuse-Minoa), but the Pioneers answered with three of their own in the bottom of the eighth. Keuka would score three in the ninth but was unable to come all the way back as the Wolves fell in game two 13-8.

Lead Wolf: The perfect day for Ryan Seales continued in game two. He went 4-4 with three doubles. He also walked. Seales drove in two runs and scored one himself.

KC Notes:

• The Wolves are now 7-11-1 all-time against Utica
• Keuka College has played eight Empire 8 doubleheaders to date. They are 6-2 in the first games and 1-6-1 in the second games. Apart from the loss and tie to open the schedule against Elmira, all of the conference doubleheaders have been splits
• Spencer Brown pitched his third complete game and improved to 4-1 on the year. He struck out seven giving him 54 on the season, setting a new Keuka College single-season record
• Led by the three by Ryan Seales in game two, the Wolves now have 67 doubles on the season, second-most in program history.
• Keuka College has also had 40 batters hit by the pitch, tied for second-most at Keuka
• Nick Brown and Ryan Seales are now tied for fourth with 25 career doubles
• Seales set a new Keuka College record with 16 doubles in a season. The senior is also one hit shy of 100 for his career

Up Next for Keuka College: The Wolves will now prepare for their final conference series of the regular season. Keuka College will face St. John Fisher College this weekend. The Cardinals have already clinched the conference regular-season title. Keuka will host St. John Fisher on Saturday. It will be Senior Day at Kuhl Field. First pitch between the Wolves and the Cardinals is set for 1 p.m.