Johnson Hits Two Homers as Pioneers Split Easter Twinbill

Colin Johnson (Alfred Almond) hit a pair of homers as Alfred State split a Easter doubleheader at Pitt Greensburg. The Bobcats rallied for a 8-7 eight inning victory in game one while Johnson hit two homers and collected all five RBI in a 5-3 Pioneer victory in the nightcap.

The Bobcats got on the board on a balk in the first game in the 1st inning but the Pioneers scored three runs in the 2nd to grab the lead. Josh Laurie (LeRoy) tied the game with a RBI single to center, Mike Gibson (Schenectady) collected a RBI bunt single, and Dan Woodward (Honeoye) hit a sac fly to make it 3-1. Mike Parlak made it 3-2 when he hit a RBI fielder's choice in the 3rd. Johnson hit a RBI double to right center in the 4th to make it 4-2. In the 6th, the Pioneers added three more runs. Jack Henby (Hornell) connected a two-run homer to left, his first collegiate round-tripper and Woodward lifted his second sac fly of the day.

Pitt-Greensburg started their comeback in the 6th when Patrick Aul hit a RBI single to right and Reno Rainey hit a three-run homer to right. Parlak tied the game up in the 7th when he lifted a one-out solo homer to left. The Pioneers went down in order in the top of the 8th before the Bobcats loaded the bases in their half of the inning with two outs. Rainey would score the winning run a Pioneer error to give UPG the victory 8-7.

Laurie led the Pioneers nine-hit attack with a 3 for 4, 1 RBI day while Johnson was 2 for 3 with a RBI. David Zuber (Honeoye Falls Lima) also collected multiple hits finishing 2 for 4.

Mike Spadafore was 3 for 4 for the Bobcats while Rainey was 2 for 5 with 3 RBI. Dean Edwards threw two innings of hitless relief with one walk and two strikeouts to earn the victory.

Johnson hit his first homer of the nightcap in the 2nd inning to give the Pioneers a 2-0 lead. Pitt-Greensburg cut the lead in half on a RBI single by Tyler Holland in the 3rd and took the lead in the 5th when Ian Hart hit a 2-RBI single through the left side of the infield. Johnson gave back the lead back to the blue & gold in the 6th when he lifted a three-run homer over the left field fence. The dinger is the 3rd of the season for Johnson.

Johnson was the lone Pioneer with multiple hits finishing 3 for 3. He finished the doubleheader 5 for 6 with 6 RBI. Nick Mahoney (Lakewood, OH) earned the win out of the bullpen while Danny Doran (Irondequoit) got the final four outs of the game to record his second save of the year.

Noah Beasley was 2 for 4 for the Bobcats (7-7, 1-1 AMCC) in game two.

The Pioneers are now 8-12 overall and 3-1 in AMCC play. They have won seven of their last eight games and were 5-1 this past week.

The blue & gold head right down the road tomorrow for a 5 p.m. contest at Houghton. The nine inning contest is a make-up contest from last Thursday.