HOUGHTON, N.Y. — The Keuka College Baseball team was swept in an Empire 8 doubleheader against Utica University on Saturday afternoon at Houghton University.
Keuka College (4-13, 0-6 Empire 8) dropped the opener to the Pioneers 12-1 and then fell in the nightcap 11-4.
Utica University 12 at Keuka College 1 – Game 1
The Pioneers took an early 4-0 lead over the Wolves with a run in the first and three in the second. Anthony Laurinitis (Philadelphia, Pa. / Father Judge) bounced back to strike out three Pioneers in the third inning.
The Wolves put two on in the bottom of the third with singles by Donald Nemeth (Guilderland, N.Y / Guilderland) and Matt Vaccaro (Fayetteville, N.Y. / Fayetteville-Manlius), but would strand them on the bases.
Utica added to their lead with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth and three in the fifth to extend their lead. Keuka College got on the board as Matt Vaccaro doubled down the left field line to score Nemeth who singled earlier in the inning. That would be the only run of the game for Keuka, however. The Pioneers added insurance runs late and defeated the Wolves 12-1 in game one.
Lead Wolves: Donald Nemeth and Matt Vaccaro teamed up for the Keuka College run. They each had two hits in the game for the Wolves.
Utica University 11 at Keuka College 4 – Game 2
Keuka College came out swinging in the second game. Shane Daley (Elma, N.Y. / Iroquois) was hit by the pitch with one out. Nolan Quinn (Aurora, Ohio / Walsh Jesuit) and RJ Murphy (Syracuse, N.Y. / West Genesee) each followed with singles. Murphy's hit would score Daley. Unfortunately for the Wolves, Keuka had a pair of outs on the basepaths to end the inning with just one run.
Starting pitcher Jared Beckley (Windsor, N.Y. / Windsor) moved efficiently through the Pioneer's lineup early, allowing just one hit over the first three innings. Utica would break through with two runs in the top of the fourth, but the Wolves answered with one in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 2-2.
The Pioneers kept the offensive momentum with two more runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to take a 5-2 lead. Keuka College answered back in the bottom of the inning. RJ Murphy singled with one out and moved to second when Josh Tryon (Elmira, N.Y. / Thomas A. Edison) was hit by the pitch. Murphy scored on an RBI single to center by Devyn Scheidt (Brockport, N.Y. / Brockport) to make it 5-3.
Keuka College loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh. Matt Vaccaro led off with a single down the right field line. Shane Daley was hit by the pitch and Nolan Quinn had a bunt single to load the bases with no outs. The Wolves would only plate one on a sacrifice fly by Josh Tryon to make it a two-run game, 6-4, after seven.
Utica would add five insurance runs in the top of the eighth and hold the Wolves at four as the Pioneers swept the doubleheader, winning game two 11-4.
Lead Wolves: Nolan Quinn and RJ Murphy each had three hits in the nightcap for the Wolves.
KC Notes:
- The Wolves fall to 7-14-1 all-time against Utica University
- Saturday was the first time in the series that either team has swept an Empire 8 doubleheader against the other
Up Next for Keuka College: The Green and Gold will look to play their first home game at Kuhl Field this Tuesday as Keuka College is slated to host Hobart College in a single, nine-inning game. It will be the first ever meeting between the Wolves and Statesmen. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.