Pioneers Sweep AMCC Finale vs. Hilbert

The Alfred State baseball team swept a pair of games as they wrapped up the AMCC regular season with 5-2 and 31-3 victories over Hilbert on Sunday afternoon. The Pioneers improve to 16-20 overall and 10-6 in AMCC play. 

The Hawks took an early lead in the 1st inning of the opener when they were able to score a pair of unearned runs. The Pioneers cut the lead in half in the 2nd when Justin LoTemple (Greece Athena) lifted a sac fly to score Jack Henby (Hornell). Tim Holler (Brewster) tied in the 4th when he lifted a long fly ball to the left center warning track and was able to come all-the-way around for an inside the park homer.

A couple batters later Matteo Avallone (Mahopac/Bridgton Academy) gave the Pioneers the lead for good when he lifted a long two-run homer over the left field fence to make it 4-2. In the 5th, Mike Gibson (Schenectady) added an insurance run when he executed a perfect squeeze bunt to score Connor Pingitore (Amsterdam/Broadalbin-Perth).

Nick Serce (Irondequoit) went the distance allowing just four hits and two unearned runs. He walked one and struck out 11. Holler and Avallone both went 2 for 3 to pace the offense.

The Pioneer offense exploded in game two. The team scored in seven of the eight innings, collected 21 hits (from 12 different players), drew 15 walks, and was hit by seven pitches.

Brody Burdett (Scottsdale) got the scoring going in the 1st with a two run single to right and came around to score later in the inning on a double play. Sam Dickerson (Cutchogue/Mattituck) highlighted a five-run 2nd with a grand slam to left center, his first homer of the season. Avallone followed with a RBI single to right center.

The Pioneers put the game out of reach with eight runs in the 3rd and seven more in the 4th. A two-run single by Holler, a three-run homer to left by Avallone, and a two-RBI double by Amaury Samalot (Churchville Chili) highlighted the 3rd. In the 4th, Avallone collected a RBI groundout, Budett scored on an error, Samalot was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, Gibson hit a RBI fielder's choice, Holler hit a sac fly, and Burdett capped the inning with a 2-RBI single down the right field line. 

The Hawks scored their lone runs of the game in the 6th when they were able to plate three runs. In the 6th, a pair of runs scored on wild pitches and Josh Laurie (LeRoy) and Samalot collected RBI. In the 7th, Bobby Sellers (Rush Henrietta) drove in a run after being hit by a pitch while in the 8th Tyler Petery (Schwenksville, PA) hit a sac fly, Domnic Francavilla (Chenango Valley) hit a RBI single, and Francavilla scored on a wild pitch to cap the scoring.

Burdett finished 5 for 5 with 4 RBI and five runs scored, Samalot was 3 for 3 with 4 RBI, and Avallone was 2 for 3 with 5 RBI. Dickerson was 2 for 3 with 4 RBI and five runs scored while Holler was 2 for 4 with 3 RBI. The top four starters in the lineup finished 12-15 with 16 RBI in the game.

On the mound, Jon White (Clarence) allowed just one earned run in six innings of work to earn the victory. He allowed five hits and walked one while striking out three. Devin Mersmann (Arcade/Pioneer), Lewis Pettit (Bolivar Richburg), and Josh Van Bramer (Fairport) each threw and inning of relief and combined to allow just two hits and one walk while striking out seven Hawk batters.

Prior to the game, the Pioneers honored six players *Pingitore, Gibson, Laurie, LoTemple, Ryan Santiago (Staten Island), and Henby, wrapping up their careers at Alfred State.

The Pioneers doubleheader vs. Keystone on Tuesday has been cancelled. The team will await word of the final seeding for the AMCC Tournament. The Pioneers will host a quarterfinal series this weekend.