Alfred State Sweeps Utica, Win Streak Now at Five

The Alfred State baseball team kept rolling as they swept a doubleheader from Utica College on Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers won the opener 7-3 and the nightcap 14-9 as they ran their winning streak to five games.

Brody Burdett (Scottsdale, AZ) got the opener started with a bang when he hit a homer to leadoff the game. Nick Serce (Irondequoit) made it 2-0 with a fly out to left later in the inning.

The game remaind 2-0 until the 5th, Serce and Connor Pingitore (Amsterdam/Broadalbin-Perth) both hit sac flies to plate run. After Utica got on the board in the bottom of the 5th with a single run, Burdett lifted a sac fly to left, Josh Laurie (LeRoy) hit a RBI triple to center, and Matteo Avallone (Mahopac/Bridgton Academy) made it 7-1 with a RBI single. Utica cut the Alfred State lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the 7th but couldn't get any closer.

Laurie led the 10-hit attack with a 3 for 4 day. Avallone was 2 for 4 while Burdett and Serce both drove in a pair. AJ Gartland (Irondequoit) threw the first four innings and allowed just one earned run on four hits. He walked five and struck out four. Chris Catoire (Brooklyn/Fort Hamilton) pitched the final three innings and allowed five hits and two earned runs while walking one and striking out two. He came in the 5th with the bases loaded and limited Utica to just one run. Jack Henby (Hornell) had a big play in the inning as he threw out a runner trying to score to record the second out of the inning.

Alfred State got started fast again in game two. Avallone hit a three run homer in the 1st and Tim Holler (Brewster) and Ryan Santiago ((Staten Island/HS of Telecommunications) followed with RBI singles to give the blue & gold the early 5-0 lead. Utica answered right back and scored four runs in the bottom of the 1st and took a 8-5 lead with four more in the 2nd. 

In the 3rd, Serce hit a RBI double, Amaury Samalot (Churchville Chili) hit a two-run double, and Burdett hit a sac fly to center to give Alfred State back the lead for good. Laurie hit a solo homer to right in the 4th to make it 10-8. In the 6th, Pingitore hit a RBI fielder's choice and Holler hit a three-run homer to build the lead to 14-8. Utica plated a run in the 7th with a sac fly but didn't get anything else across.

Holler finished the contest 3 for 4 with 4 RBI while Avallone was 2 for 3 with 3 RBI. Santiago was 2 for 3 with a RBI while Samalot was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI. Nine of the Pioneers 14 hits were for extrabases in the game.

Connor Hong (Gates Chili) was outstanding out of the bullpen and earned the victory. He threw 5.1 innings of relief allowing three hits and one earned run. He walked three and struck out three.

Alfred State collected 21 runs on 24 hits, 12 for extra bases, in the sweep to improve to 6-8 on the year. 

The Pioneers scheduled game for Monday vs. Houghton has been postponed. The blue & gold will return to action on Wednesday when they travel to University of Rochester for a 3 p.m. doubleheader with the Yellowjackets.