Pioneers Win Opener in Dramatic Fashion, Split with Monroe

Alfred State and Monroe CC split a doubleheader in Rochester on Tuesday.  The Pioneers scored two runs in the top of the 7th to win the opener 7-6 but fell 13-4 in the nightcap.

In the opener the Pioneers jumped out to a 5-0 lead after scoring three runs in the 1st and two more in the 2nd.  Cullen Franz (Cazenovia) delivered a two-RBI double in the 1st and scored on a passed ball.  In the 2nd, Stephen Golembiewski (Cattaraugus Little Valley) had a RBI ground out and Jordan Wheaton (Wayland Cohocton) had a RBI single.

The Tribunes chipped away at the Pioneer lead with single runs in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th and took the lead for the first time in the 6th with two runs.

In the top of the 7th, Alfred sent eight batters to the plate and regained the lead.  Wheaton connected on a game-tying RBI double and scored on a game winning single by Tom Banicky (Orson/Hancock).  Brady Sass (Caledonia Mumford) pitched a 1-2-3 bottom half of the inning to secure the victory.

Wheaton finished 2 for 3 with 2 RBI, Matthew Nawrot (Clarence) and Austin Baker (Canisteo Greenwood) were each 2 for 4, and Franz finished with 2 RBI.  Sass came out of the bullpen and pitched three innings to earn his second win of the year.

In the nightcap, the Tribunes scored six runs in the 4th inning to put a 6-4 game out of reach. Franz led the offense with a 2 for 4, 1 RBI game while Baker, and Jordyn Confer (Williamson/Tioga) were each 2 for 4.

The blue & gold have a couple days off before hosting Hilbert College in a doubleheader on Friday afternoon.