Pioneers Return Favor, Sweep Canton

A day after SUNY Canton swept Alfred State, the Pioneers returned the favor by taking a pair from the Kangaroos on Sunday. The Pioneers won the opener 3-2 in nine innings and won the nightcap 9-7.

In the opener, Jordan Wheaton (Wayland Cohocton) delivered a walk-off two-out single in the bottom of the 9th to lift the Pioneers to the victory. The Pioneers trailed 2-1 heading into the 9th and had tied the game two batters earlier when Ryan Hierlwimmer (Livonia) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Canton got on the board in the 1st on a RBI single by Jeremy Baez. The Pioneers tied it up in the 3rd when Wheaton drew a bases-loaded walk. In the 9th, Baez collected his second RBI single to put the Kangaroos back on top.

Robert Cardona (Harlem/All Hallows) was 2 for 3 with two runs scored while Wheaton was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI. Matthew Nawot (Clarence) earned the win on the mound while Ryan Hedges (Arkport) tossed seven solid innings. Hedges allowed five hits, one earned runs, walked five, and struck out eight.

Baez was 3 for 4 with 2 RBI while Seth Douglas was 2 for 5.

In the nightcap, the Pioneers used a seven run 4th inning to take control of the contest. After Canton had taken their first lead of the game in the top half of the inning, Alfred State responded by sending 13 batters to the plate in the bottom of the inning. 

Jordyn Confer (Tioga, PA) tied the game up at 3-3 with his third RBI of the game with a single to left. Cullen Franz (Cazenovia) had a RBI double, Wheaton a two-RBI single, Jose Martinez (Queens/Newtown) and Chris Borden (Scotia-Glenville) each had a RBI singles, and the Pioneers plated another run on a fielding error.

The Kangaroos scored three runs in the 5th to cut the lead to 9-6 and added another run in the 6th before Confer moved to the mound and shut the door. Confer recorded his first save by recording the final six outs without allowing a base runner.

Confer led the offense with a 2 for 2, 3 RBI day while Franz was 2 for 3 with 2 RBI. Brady Sass (Caldedonia Mumford) pitched the first five innings allowing four earned runs to earn his second victory of the week.

Wilson Matos was 3 for 5 with a RBI for Canton while Baez was 2 for 4 with a RBI.

The Pioneers and Kangaroos continue their season series next weekend in Canton. The two teams are slated for a three-game series (two on Saturday and one on Sunday).

The blue & gold are back at it on Tuesday when they host Houghton for a 2 p.m. doubleheader.