Pioneers and Roos Split Twinbill

Alfred State and SUNY Canton split a doubleheader on Friday afternoon as the Pioneers played their first game on campus this season.  The Kangaroos won 6-3 in the opener while the Pioneers won 9-7 in the nightcap.

In the opener, Canton jumped out to a 4-0 lead after three innings behind a pair of runs in the 1st and the 3rd inning.  The Pioneers offense was held in check by Roo starter Zach Lawrence until the 6th inning.  In the 6th, Dylan Lewis Ellison connected on a two-run single and Tom Banicky (Orson/Hancock) followed with a RBI single to cut the Canton lead to 4-3.  In the 7th, Canton added two insurance run with a pair of two-out RBI singles.  Alfred fought back in the bottom half of the inning plating a run on a single by Cullen Franz (Cazenovia) but John Mancini was able to strand runners on 2nd and 3rd to close out the game.

Franz was the only Pioneers with multiple hits finishing 3 for 4.  Jesse Barton and Jeremy Baez were each 2 for 3 with a RBI for Canton.

After falling behind 1-0 in the 1st the Pioneers scored two runs in the 3rd and 4th to grab the lead.  Franz and Ryan Hierlwimmer (Livonia) had RBI in the 3rd and Austin Baker (Canisteo Greenwood) and Jordan Wheaton (Wayland Cohocton) plated runs in the 4th.

In the top of the 4th, Canton scored four runs to take a short lived lead.  The Pioneers answered right back with five of their own to take the lead for good.  In the deciding 4th inning, Alfred took advantage of three errors, two walks, and a hit batsmen to go along with two hits. Baker had a clutch two-run double in the inning.

Canton cut the lead to 9-7 in the 6th inning but Jordyn Confer (Williamson/Tioga) came in and got the 1st and 3rd situation.  Confer recorded the final four outs of the game to record the save.

Baker finished 2 for 2 with 3 RBI for the Pioneers.  The offense took advantage of five walks and five hit batsmen.  Brady Sass (Caledonia Mumford) earned his fourth straight win with 5.2 innings of work.  He allowed eight hits and four earned runs while walking three and striking out three.

Jordan Hunneyman was 2 for 4 with 3 RBI while Kevin Hill was 2 for 4 with a RBI for Canton.

The Pioneers and Kangaroos continue their four game series on Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader.