Pioneers Tallied 12 Runs In Win Over Houghton

Houghton, NY- Alfred State Baseball tallied a 12-6 win over Houghton before conference play starts tomorrow.  The Pioneers notched five extra base hits in the win.

Devin Mersmann had a good day at the plate, going 2-5 with a triple and a double and two RBIs. Jack Curabba also went 2-5 with a triple and a double for three RBIs.

On the mound, Ryan Kinney got the start and the win as he pitched 7.0 innings only allowing four runs while scattering nine hits and notching a Pioneer career-best of 11 strikeouts. Caden Fortunato came in relief and tallied four strikeouts in 2.0 innings.

After a scoreless first inning the Pios got on the board first with three runs in the top on the second. With one out Bobby Sellers got walked, then Anthony Snyder reached on an error. Two batters later, Mersmann notched an RBI double to centerfield for the 1-0 lead. The Pioneers would then score back-to-back runs on wild pitches for the 3-0 lead.

Alfred State would increase their lead by two runs in the fourth. Snyder led off with a walk, and advanced to second on a wild pitch before a sacrifice bunt by Conor Kiefer put a man on third. Mersmann got hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners, then after a change of pitchers, Snyder scored on an error for the 4-0 lead. Two batters later, Elijah Barinas tallied an RBI single for the 5-0 lead.

Houghton got on the board in the bottom half of the fourth before the Pioneers scored a run in the fifth to make it a 6-1 game. Curabba got walked to start the inning, two batters later Sellers got hit by a pitch, and Snyder notched a single to load the bases. Kiefer would get an RBI on a fielder's choice as the Pios took a 6-1 lead.

The Highlanders score two in the bottom of the fifth and one in the six to cut the lead down to 6-4. ASC got back on the board in the seventh, as Curabba led off with a triple to right field. Seller then tallied an RBI single for the 7-4 lead. Then in the eighth, Tyler Petery led off with a single up the middle. Then Barinas singled towards the pitcher. A sac bunt by Tyler Korsky advanced both runners in scoring position, then Curabba followed with a two RBI double to make it a 9-4 game.

After Houghton scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth, The Pioneers added three insurance runs in the ninth. Kiefer led off with a single, Mersmann followed with an RBI triple to right field. Petery then stepped in the box and notched an RBI single. Barinas followed with a walk, after both runners advanced on an out, Petery scored on an RBI groundout by Curabba to take a 12-6 lead. Alfred was able to hold Houghton scoreless in the bottom half of the inning to get the win.