Pioneers Win 5th Straight

The Alfred State baseball team won their 5th straight with a 5-4 victory over Elmira on Tuesday evening. Pioneer center fielder Austin Baker (Canisteo Greenwood) threw out the tying run at the plate to the end the contest.

The Eagles got on the board on a two-out single by Will Jenkins in the 2nd before the Pioneers tied it up in the 3rd on a RBI double by Dan Woodward (Honeoye). 

The Pioneers took the lead for good in the 4th when Robert Cardona (Harlem/All Hallows) executed a squeeze play to score Baker. Woodward collected two more RBI in the 7th when he singled through the left side. Elmira cut it back to a 4-3 lead in the 7th when Dennis Rudolph hit a two-out, two-run double down the left field line.

Rafael Perozo (Bronx/St. Raymond) added an insurance run in the 9th when he lifted a homer over the Dunn Field right field fence. Perozo's homer was his first of the year.

In the bottom of the 9th, Dylan Bellinger doubled with two outs to score Hayden Rothernberg but was thrown out at home by Baker when Conor Bawiec singled up the middle on batter later.

Thomas Shofi (Carmel) led the Pioneers nine hit attack with a 3 for 5 day while Woodward was 2 for 5 with 3 RBI.

On the mound, Connor Odonoghue (Avon) picked up the victory with 6.2 innings of work. He allowed seven hits and three earned runs while striking out five. Kyle Kuzma (Waverly) pitched the final 2.1 innings to earn the save.

Rothernberg led the Eagles with a 3 for 5 day while Jenkins was 2 for 3

The Pioneers are slated to take the field again next Tuesday when they host Fredonia.