Pioneers Open Up Northern Schedule with Split

The Alfred State baseball team opened up the Northern portion of their 2016 schedule by splitting a doubleheader at Penn College on Thursday. The Pioneers won the nightcap 9-3 after the Wildcats had taken the opener 8-2.

In the nightcap, the blue & gold combined a 12-hit offensive performance and a complete game effort by Brady Sass (Caledonia Mumford) to earn the victory.

The Pioneers took a 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning when Ryan Santos (New York/Business of Sports School) lifted a sac fly to left. Jesse Swan (Campbell Savona) collected a RBI single to left and Rafael Perozo (Bronx/St. Raymond) plated two with a double to right field in the 3rd to make it 4-0.

Franz and Perozo scored on passed balls in the 5th and Austin Baker (Canisteo Greenwod) drew a bases loaded walk to make it 7-0. Penn College scored single runs in the 5th and 6th but Andy Pichardo (Corona/Academy of American Studies) got those runs back with a 2-RBI single to left to make it 9-2. After allowing a two-out RBI double, Sass was able to finish his complete game to seal the victory.

Franz, Perozo, and Santos were all 2 for 3 on the day while Dan Woodward (Honeoye) was 2 for 4. Sass scattered six hits and two earned runs on the mound. He walked one and struck out six.

In the opener, Cody Nelson struck out 14 and allowed just two hits to lead the Wildcats to the 8-2 victory. Penn College broke a 2-2 tie with two runs in the 3rd and four unearned runs in the 5th. 

Nelson allowed one earned run, walked three walks, and struck out 14 in his six innings of work. Max Bair struck out two in the final inning.

Kyle Kuzma (Waverly) continued to pitch well out of the bullpen. He allowed four hits and no earned runs in 2.2 innings of work. Nick Koscinski (Buffalo/Maryvale) struck out three in his one inning of work.

The Pioneers open up the home portion of their season on Saturday when they are slated to host Penn State in a 1 p.m. doubleheader.