Pioneers End Season with Victory

The Alfred State baseball team entered the final day of the regular season needing a win and some help from Corning CC to make the Region III Division III playoffs.  The Pioneers took care of their part by defeating Jamestown CC 10-9 in the completion of a suspended game but Finger Lakes CC defeated Corning twice to wrap up the final spot in the postseason.

Alfred traveled all the way to Jamestown to complete a game that was suspended in the top of the 7th inning on April 28th.  When the game was suspended the Pioneers and Jayhawks were tied at 9-9 and Alfred had a runner on 2nd base with no outs.

When the game resumed on Thursday, JCC recorded the first out of the inning but just pitches later Dylan Lewis Ellison (Rexville/Whitesville) advanced on a wild pitch to third and scored on a throwing error by the catcher to give the Pioneers the lead.  Alfred threatened for more but stranded runners on 2nd and 3rd.

Jamestown led off the bottom of the 7th off of Stephen Solomon (Harrisburg, PA) with an infield single and two walks to load the bases.  Solomon was able to induce a ground ball force out and two strikeouts to protect the lead and send the Pioneers to victory.

The Pioneers then played the waiting game to see the results from Corning.  Finger Lakes took the opener 14-4 and then used a big 2nd inning en route to a 13-3 victory in game two to earn the last playoff spot.

Greg Koller (Chesterland, OH) finished the game with a 3 for 4 day while Jordan Wheaton (Wayland Cohocton) connected on a solo HR in the 6th to tie the game at 9-9 prior to the suspension of the game.

Nicholas Padley (Buffalo/Sweet Home) earned the win on the mound with 3.1 innings of relief work.  He allowed just three hits and one unearned run.  Solomon's work on Thursday earned him the save.

The Pioneers finish the season 21-28 oveall and 17-13 in RIII DIII play.  The 21 wins more than triples the amount the team had in 2012 and is the most for Alfred State since the 2009 spring season.