HOUGHTON, N.Y. — The Keuka College Baseball team opened their three-game series with Utica University on Friday evening. The Wolves fell to the Pioneers 13-9 in a game played at Houghton University.  

As a team, Keuka College (4-11, 0-4 Empire 8) had 15 hits in the game. The duo Josh Tryon (Elmira, N.Y. / Thomas A. Edison) and RJ Murphy (Syracuse, N.Y. / West Genesee) accounted for eight of them as they each had four hits in the loss.

Utica University 13 at Keuka College 9

The Pioneers jumped out to a quick start with seven runs on six hits in the top of the first inning. Keuka College answered right back in the bottom of the inning. Singles up the middle by Shane Daley (Elma, N.Y. / Iroquois) and Nolan Quinn (Aurora, Ohio / Walsh Jesuit) put a pair of runners on. They would score on a triple to center by Josh Tryon. The senior would then come home on an RBI single by freshman Connor Springer (Irondequoit, N.Y. / Irondequoit) to make it 7-3 after one.

Both teams added a run in the third inning. For the Wolves, RJ Murphy hit a ground-rule double and then scored on an RBI single by Josh Tryon. Utica led 8-4 after three.

Utica added two more in the top of the fourth and the fifth. The Green and Gold pulled one back in the bottom of the fifth, again with the combination of Murphy and Tryon. Josh Tryon hit a double off the left centerfield wall to score Murphy from first, making it 12-5 in favor of Utica.

The Wolves answered a Utica run in the seventh. Shane Daley led off with a walk for the Wolves. He scored on an RBI triple to the right field fence by RJ Murphy.  

Keuka College attempted a ninth-inning comeback. RJ Murphy had a two-run double for the Wolves. He scored on a Connor Springer sacrifice fly, but the Pioneers would hold the Wolves there as Utica defeated Keuka College 13-9 on Friday.

KC Notes:

• Keuka College is now 7-12-1 all-time against Utica University
• 15 hits for the Wolves is the most in a game this season
• The four hits for Murphy and Tryon tied for their personal best
• In total, RJ Murphy accounted for seven runs, scoring four and driving in three, both new career highs
• Spencer Brown (Feura Bush, N.Y. / Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk) struck out seven for the Wolves. He surpassed 100 strikeouts for his career and now sits in a tie for second in the Keuka College record books with 101 Ks
• Anthony Sciacca (Massapequa Park, N.Y. / Farmingdale) was effective in a career-long five-inning relief appearance. The freshman allowed just one run over the final five innings

Up Next for Keuka College: The Wolves and Pioneers will complete the season series with a doubleheader at noon on Saturday. The games will be played at Houghton University.