HOUGHTON, N.Y. — The Keuka College Baseball team was swept in a doubleheader at Houghton University this weekend.

The first game of the doubleheader started on Saturday but was suspended due to lightning. The Empire 8 games resumed on Sunday with the Highlanders defeating Keuka College (5-16, 1-8 Empire 8) 4-2 and 7-4.

Houghton University 4 vs. Keuka College 2 – Game One

Keuka College threatened first as they loaded the bases with two outs in the second, but the Highlanders got a strikeout to escape the inning. Houghton took the lead in the third. They led off with a pair of singles and both runners would later score on a two-out single to make it 2-0.

The Wolves attempted to respond in the fourth as RJ Murphy (Syracuse, N.Y. / West Genesee) walked and Matt Vaccaro (Fayetteville, N.Y. / Fayetteville-Manlius) singled to put two on with no outs. The duo advanced to second and third following an error, but the Highlanders retired the next three to keep the Wolves off the board.

The game resumed on Sunday in the sixth inning and the Highlanders promptly added to their lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning. The Wolves were able to threaten in the top of the seventh. They took advantage of errors and wild pitches to score two runs. Two walks then put the tying and go-ahead run on the bases, but Houghton got a strikeout to end the game.

Lead Wolf: The weather delay killed the momentum that starting pitcher Anthony Laurinitis (Philadelphia, Pa. / Father Judge) had on the mound. The sophomore scattered six hits and allowed only two runs over his five innings of work. Laurinitis struck out seven batters, pushing his season total to 40 Ks.

Houghton University 7 vs. Keuka College 4 – Game Two

The Wolves came out fast in the second game, sending eight batters to the plate in the first inning. Matt Vaccaro delivered a two-run single to give the Wolves the lead. He stole second and then scored on a double by Donald Nemeth (Guilderland, N.Y. / Guilderland) to make it 3-0.

Houghton answered with two runs in the bottom of the first, but the Wolves held the lead throughout the early innings. Starting pitcher Jared Beckley (Windsor, N.Y. / Windsor) kept the lead for Keuka through his six innings of work.

Keuka College went to the bullpen in the seventh and Houghton attacked. The Highlanders had five runs on four hits in the inning to take a 7-3 lead over the Wolves.

The Wolves attempted to answer back as they loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth. A double play would score a run for Keuka but also end the rally for the Wolves as they only got one in the inning to make it 7-4. Houghton would hold them there as they swept the doubleheader.

Lead Wolf: Matt Vaccaro had a strong day at the plate for Keuka College, going 2-3. Vaccaro drove in two runs, stole a base, and scored a run in game two.

KC Notes:

• The Wolves fall to 6-11 all-time against the Highlanders and 3-8 when playing them on their home field
• Anthony Laurinitis has moved to ninth on the single-season strikeout list at Keuka College
• As a team, the Wolves have 135 strikeouts on the season, the ninth-most in program history
• RJ Murphy extended his hitting streak to a personal-best seven games in game one but had it snapped in game two. Murphy was still effective in the nightcap, working a pair of walks to get on base
• Tyler Lewandowski (Milltown, N.J. / Spotswood) and Donald Nemeth each extended their hitting streaks to seven games

Up Next for Keuka College: The Green and Gold will step out of Empire 8 Conference play on Tuesday for a single game at Hobart College. First pitch between the Wolves and Statesmen is set for 6 p.m.