Pioneers Sweep AMCC Opening Doubleheader

The Alfred State baseball team opened up AMCC play with a doubleheader sweep of Pitt Bradford on Wednesday at the Kerr Pegula Complex at Houghton College. The Pioneers won the opener 6-5 with a run in the bottom of the 7th and then three big innings to earn a 14-4 victory in the nightcap.

The blue & gold opened up the scoring in the 1st innng when David Zuber (Honeoye Falls Lima) collected a 2-RBI single up the middle. Connor Pingitore (Amsterdam/Broadalbin-Perth) made it 3-0 when he scored on a throwing error. The Panthers scored single unearned runs in the 2nd and 3rd and scored two runs in the 4th to grab their first lead of the game. In the bottom of the 4th, the Pioneers regained the lead when Zuber collected a RBI single and combined with Pingitore on a double steal to make it 5-4. 

The game remained 5-4 until the top of the 7th when Jascon Lucarelli delivered a one-out RBI singled up the middle to tie it up. Danny Doran (Irondequoit) settled down and stranded the bases loaded setting up the walk-off opportunity. With one out Colin Johnson (Alfred Almond) laced a double down the left field line. After a ground out, Johnson advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a throwing error on a ground ball hit by Mike Gibson (Schenectady).

Zuber led Alfred State's nine-hit attack with a 3 for  day while Pingitore was 2 for 4. Doran was credited with the win after pitching the 7th inning. Angel Victorino (Inwood/Harvest Collegiate) went 4.1 innings and allowed six hits and four walks but did not allow an earned run. Jarrod Deaton (Newburgh Free Academy) was effective out of the pen tossing 1.2 of hitless relief.

Brody Wood was 3 for 4 for the Panthers while Lucarelli and Jay Clinger were each 2 for 4.

Pitt Bradford jumped out front in the nightcap with three runs in the 1st keyed by a 2-RBI triple by Austin Parent. The blue & gold answered right back in their half of the 1st with a five run outburst. Brody Burdett (Scottsdale, AZ) collected a RBI ground out, Pingitore stole home on a double steal, Josh Laurie (LeRoy) collected a RBI single to left, Johnson had a RBI single and scored on a throwing error.

Parent made it 5-4 with a RBI double in the 3rd but once again the Pioneers answered with three runs to take the lead for good. Laurie collected a RBI triple, Johnson hit a RBI grounder, and Henby stole home on a double steal. In the 4th, Pingitore collected a RBI single to left, Zuber launched a two-run homer to left center, and Johnson hit a RBI single to center to make it 12-4. 

The game remained 12-4 until the 8th, when Burdett collected a RBI double and Laurie followed with a RBI single.

Pingitore led the 15-hit attack with a 4 for 5 day. Laurie was 3 for 4 with 3 RBI, Zuber was 3 for 4 with 2 RBI, and Johnson was 2 for 5 with 3 RBI. Garrett Mack (Avon) earned the win with six solid innings on the mound. He allowed seven hits and four runs while walking four and striking out five.

Parent finished 3 for 5 with 3 RBI to lead the Panthers (6-8, 0-2 AMCC). Sawyer Packard also chipped in two hits finishing 2 for 4.

The Pioneers have now won six straight and are 7-11 overall and 2-0 in AMCC action.

Tomorrow's scheduled contest vs. Houghton has been moved to Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. (please note recent change). The Pioneers will now next be in action on Saturday when they continue AMCC play with a doubleheader with Pitt Greensburg.