Pioneers Split; Serce Breaks Career Homerun Record

Pioneers split the home doubleheader against Hilbert, 3-0 loss in game 1 and a 9-4 win in game 2.

Game 1:

The Pioneer bats were held at bay all game. Alfred State was held to three hits and didn't push someone across the plate. A leadoff double by Bryson Rigsby was the only extra basehit of the game. Hilbert scored three late runs in the game to beat the Pioneers in a pitchers duel. A solid outing from Spencer Riehler kept Alfred State in the game, going 5.2 innings, giving up six hits, while only allowing 2 earned runs.

Game 2:

Alfred would not go down without a fight, as the bats came alive in the second game. Scoring one in the first on a single by Rigsby and a double by Tim Holler. Followed by a sacrifice fly by Nick Serce. The Pioneers would tac on two more runs in the second inning with multiple walks from Elijah Barinas, Gavin Moore, Owen Lansing, and Bryson Rigsby. Barinas stole home and and Sam Dickerson had an RBI single to left field scoring Lansing. In the third inning, Nick Serce hit a home run, which broke the record for most home runs in a career at Alfred State, passing former player and now assistant coach, Matteo Avallone. One more run the fourth inning from s Lansing double and an RBI single by Rigsby. Hilbert responded with three of their own late in the game, but the Pioneers came back with an insurance run in the 7th to make the score 6-4. Gavin Moore came up with a clutch RBI single. In the eighth inning, the Pioneers pulled away further, with a pinch hit appearance from Bobby Sellers. Sellers ripped a double to left field clearing the bases and giving the Pioneers a comfortable 9-4 lead. Jon White started the game on the mound for the Pioneers going six innings, giving up only three hits and allowing two earned runs. Caden Fortunato had 2.2 innings of relief to close the game and allowed no hits.

The Pioneers play again on Friday against Mount Aloysius at home and will be honoring their seniors before the 1 p.m. first pitch.