Pioneers Rally in 9th to Earn Split at Medaille

The Alfred State baseball team scored four runs in the 9th inning of game two to rally to earn a split of a AMCC doubleheader at Medaille. The Pioneers took the nightcap 5-2 after falling in the opener 4-3. 

Trailing 2-1 heading to the 9th, the Pioneers strung together six hits to plate four runs to erase the deficit. Brody Burdett (Scottsdale, AZ) started the rally with a one-out double. Josh Laurie (LeRoy) tied the game one batter later with a double. Dan Woodward (Honeoye) gave the Pioneers the with a single. After a single by Danny Doran (Irondequoit) and a fly out, Connor Pingitore (Amsterdam/Broadalbin-Perth) and David Zuber (Honeoye Falls Lima) added insurance runs with RBI singles.

Jake Miller (Bethlehem, PA) came out of the pen in the 9th and kept the Mavericks off the board. Matt Isham (Maine Endwell) earned the victory with two innings of relief work. He allowed three hits and one earned run. Connor Hong (Rochester/Gates Chili) made the start and pitched 5.2 innings. He allowed three hits and one run while walking two and striking out three.

Alfred State took a 1-0 lead in the 1st inning when Pingitore collected a RBI single. Medaille tied it in the 6th with a Shawn Filas RBI single. They took a 2-1 advantage in the 7th, on a RBI double by Jared McStine.

Pingitore was 3 for 5 with 2 RBI, Laurie was 2 for 3 with a RBI, and Woodward was 2 for 5 with a RBI.

In the opener, Medaille jumped out to an early lead with a RBI single by Ryan Wojcinski in the 1st. They made it 3-0 in the 4th when Filas hit a two-run homer. Mike Gibson (Schenectady) cut the lead to 3-1 in the 5th with a RBI groundout. Greg Power gave the Mavericks back their three-run lead with a RBI single in the 5th. 

In the 7th, the Pioneers started a rally. Jack Henby (Hornell) doubled to lead off the inning and scored one batter later on a pinch hit double by Doran. Laurie followed with a RBI single to cut it to a 4-3 game. Woodward followed with a single but Maverick pitcher Jared McStine finished his complete game victory with a pop out and a strikeout.

Woodward was 3 for 4 in the game and finished the doubleheader 5 for 9. He was the lone Pioneer multiple hits in the opener.

Power was 2 for 3 with a RBI while McStine went the distance allowing eight hits and two earned runs while striking out five.

Alfred State is now 12-22 overall and 7-9 in AMCC play. They currently sit in 6th place in the conference standings. Medaille is 11-14 overall and 4-8 in conference play.

The blue & gold wrap up AMCC play on Sunday when they travel to LaRoche for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.