Pioneers Begin Spring Break Trip

The Alfred State baseball team opened up their spring break trip on a Saturday at Southern Virginia. The Knights took both ends of the doubleheader 7-0 and 11-7.

In the opener Riley Daniels threw a seven-inning no-hitter. He walked two and struck out six in the contest. Bridger Taylor led the Knights eight hit attack, that included six extra base hits, with a 3 for 3, 2 RBI day. Ryan Morin was 2 for 2 with 3 RBI. Both Taylor and Morin connected on homers.

The Knights started off fast in the nightcap as they jumped out to a 8-0 lead (six in the 1st and a two in the 2nd) after two innings. The Pioneers battled back in the middle innings. Danny Doran (Irondequoit) and Colin Johnson (Alfred Almond) collected RBI singles in the 3rd, Tim Holler (Brewster) hit a 2-RBI triple and Mike Gibson (Schnectady) followed a RBI ground out in the 4th to make it 8-5.

The Pioneers left a pair of runners on base in the 4th, 5th, and 6th innings but could not get any closer. Southern Virginia was able to three insurance runs in the 6th to push out their lead. In the 9th, Brody Burdett (Scottsdale, AZ) connected on a two-run homer to left center to make it 11-7 but the blue & gold would not get any closer.

Holler finished 2 for 4 with 2 RBI while Connor Pingitore (Broadalbin Perth) was 2 for 2. AJ Gartland (Irondequoit) kept the Pioneers in the game with 4.1 innings of relief. He allowed just the three runs in the 6th inning. He walked one and struck out five.

Taylor continued his big day with a 2 for 3, 3 RBI game while Canon Anderson was 3 for 4 with 4 RBI. The Knights collected 13 hits including three home runs.

The Pioneers are back in action on Monday when they begin play at the Gene Cusic Classic with a 3 p.m. contest vs. Lakeland University.