Pioneers Split with Yellowjackets

The Alfred State baseball team split a pair of games at the University of Rochester on a beautiful Wednesday afternoon. The Pioneers took the opener 8-5 but fell in 5-4 in the nightcap. 

Tim Holler (Brewster) gave the Pioneers a 2-0 lead just two batters into the game when he hit a two run homer to left field. The game remained that score until the bottom of the 4th when Jacob Matzat homered to left center to tie it up.

In the 5th, the blue & gold answered right back with four runs of their own to take the lead for good. Mike Gibson (Schenectady) scored on a fielding error, Holler scored on a throwing error, Matteo Avallone (Mahopac/Bridgton Academy) hit a RBI triple to right center, and Nick Serce (Irondequoit) hit a sac fly to cap the inning.

U of R, scored a single run in the 5th and then cut the deficit to 6-5 in the 6th when Jackson Reed hit a two-run homer to left center.

After getting out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the 7th, Connor Pingitore (Amsterdam/Broadalbin Perth) hit a one-out solo homer to left to add to the lead. In the 9th, Avallone collected an RBI single to left to add another insurance run.

Holler was 3 for 5 with 2 RBI to lead the 10-hit attack. Pingitore was 2 for 4 with a RBI and Avallone was 2 for 5 with a pair of RBI.

Serce earned the win with six innings of work on the mound. He allowed nine hits and five runs while striking out nine. AJ Gartland (Irondequoit) threw two scoreless innings and Connor Hong (Gates Chili) got the final three outs to record the save.

The Yellowjackets jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the 1st inning of the nightcap. Amaury Samalot (Churchville Chili) cut the lead in half in the 2nd when he singled up the middle to score Sam Dickerson (Cutchogue/Mattituck). Jesse Kabat (Seneca Falls/Mynderse Academy) tied it in the 4th when he hit a ground-rule double to score Samalot.

A Matzat RBI double in the 5th gave U of R back the lead but the Pioneers were able to score two runs in the 6th to retake the lead. Brody Burdett (Scottsdale, AZ) hit a RBI groundout and Samalot scored on a wild pitch.

Rochester tied the game up in the 6th with a sac fly and then won the game in the bottom of the 7th when Aaron Whitley hit a one-out sac fly with bases loaded to win the contest for the Yellowjackets.

Samalot was 2 for 2 with two runs scored while Dickerson was 2 for 3. Josh Laurie (LeRoy) was 2 for 4. Christopher Mattoon (Elmira) started and pitched five innings for Alfred State. He allowed seven hits and three earned runs while striking out three.

The Pioneers (7-9 overall) are right back on the diamond tomorrow when they head to Oswego for a 1 p.m. doubleheader with the Lakers.