UTICA, N.Y. (April 27, 2014) – The Stevens Institute of Technology baseball program lifted its record to 18-10 overall with a sweep of Utica College in an Empire 8 Conference doubleheader on Saturday. Stevens won Game One, 3-2, and then shutout Utica, 11-0, in the nightcap.

Game One: Stevens 3, Utica 2

Senior Matt Buccheri (Little Silver, N.J.) tossed six solid innings for the Ducks in the opener and struck out five batters for the win. Buccheri scattered just four hits and allowed two runs with two walks for his second win of the season.

Classmate Dan Allen (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.) made an impact offensively and on the mound for Stevens in Game One. Allen went 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and a double, and then came in to close out the contest with his second save of the season in a hitless seventh inning with one strike out.

Stevens struck first with a run in the top of the fourth on a single from freshman Bret Viola (Carmel, N.Y.) that scored Allen. Utica answered in the bottom half of the inning and then took the lead with another run in the fifth.

In the top of the sixth, freshman Michael Mule' (Boca Raton, Fla.) scored on a fielding error of the bat of sophomore Nicholas Sieber (Shrewsbury, Mass.) to knot the game at 2-2. Viola then picked up his second RBI of the game with a fielder's choice that brought home Allen for the eventual game-winning run.

Junior Gregg Nickels (Simpsonville, S.C.) doubled in three at bats, while junior Brian Hennelly (Holbrook, N.Y.) went 1-for-2 with a walk. Sieber recorded the other hit for Stevens in Game One.

Game Two: Stevens 11, Utica 0

Five pitchers combined for 18 total strikeouts in the night cap, led by nine from sophomore starter Robert Robbins (Tallahassee, Fla.). Robbins earned the victory in Game Two and gave up just four hits and three walks.

Senior Mark Poinsett (Ocean Gate, N.J.), junior Peirce Marston (Silver Spring, Md.) and sophomores Daniel McIntyre (Lakeway, Texas) and Ryan Patterson (Staten Island, N.Y.) each threw an inning in relief and surrendered just one base runner. Poinsett and Marston each tallied three strike outs, while Patterson fanned two and McIntyre punched out one.

The 18 strikeouts are the most a Stevens staff and compiled in the past three seasons. Before today, 16 punch outs was the single-game high.

Offensively, Stevens scored eight of its 11 runs between the third and fifth innings and capped off the sweep with three more in the ninth.

Sieber batted 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, two RBI and a run scored, while Allen went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, a stolen base and run scored.

Junior Marc Calleo (Bayville, N.J.), sophomore Jayson Yano (Foothill Ranch, Calif.) and freshman Nolan Bennett (Chatsworth, Calif.) all collected two hits in the rout. Calleo also walked, scored once and drove in another, while Yano stole a base, scored twice and had one RBI.

Hennelly, sophomore Tyler Bush (Bristol, Conn.) and freshman Harrison Kaye (North Brunswick, N.J.) all notched a double. Kaye drove in two runs on his extra base hit.

The Ducks look to complete the four-game sweep of the Pioneers tomorrow beginning at 12 p.m. in another double dip.

Facebook: "Like" Stevens Athletics
Twitter: @stevensducks
Instagram: @stevensducks