Pioneers Down Brockport in Virginia

For the second straight Saturday, the Alfred State baseball team used solid pitching and timely hitting to earn a victory. This week the Pioneers (3-1) downed Brockport 8-3 in a contest played at Ferrum College in Virginia.

The Golden Eagles got on the board in the 1st on a sac fly by James Houlahan and added another in the 3rd when they scored an unearned run. Matteo Avallone (Mahopac/Bridgton Academy) and Colin Johnson (Alfred Almond) tied the game up in the 5th when they hit each hit sacrifice flies.

A sac fly by Ryan Voight gave Brockport back the lead in the 5th but the Pioneers were able to take the lead for good in the 6th. TJ Lucey (Fairport) hit a two-RBI double to left to make it 4-3 and Johnson added two more runs with a homer to left in the 7th. In the 9th, Brody Burdett (Scottsdale, AZ) added two more insurance runs with a single up the middle.

The combination of Andrew Santobuono (Franklin/Unatego) and AJ Gartland (Irondeqouit) combined for a solid effort on the mound. Santobuono allowed six hits and two earned runs in six innings of work. He walked one and struck out three. Gartland earned the save with three shutout innings. He allowed just two hits while striking out six.

Connor Pingitore (Amsterdam/Broadalbin-Perth) led the Pioneers 11-hit attack with a 3 for 5 day. Johnson finished 2 for 3 with 3 RBI while Avallone was 2 for 4 with a RBI.

The Pioneers continue their trip to Virginia on Sunday with a split doubleheader. They take on Brockport at 11 a.m. and then take on Ferrum College at 2:30 p.m.