Pioneers Cage Lions, Sweep Doubleheader

Bolivar, NY – The Alfred State baseball team swept a doubleheader against AMCC opponent Penn St. Altoona by scores of 5-2 and 8-2.

In game one, Ryan Bailey pitched all seven innings and earned the win. Jack Curabba went 3-3 with two RBIs and a run scored while Connor Kiefer went 1-3 with an RBI and two stolen bases.

The Lions scored first in the top of the first on a fielding error by the Pioneers. Alfred State answered in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Curabba that scored Elijah Barinas. They added another run on an RBI single by Kiefer and a bases loaded walk by Mersmann. The Pioneers led 3-1 after the first inning.

The Lions added a run in the top of the third inning, but the Pioneers answered with a suicide squeeze play by Anthony Snyder that scored Caleb Walker and made the score 4-2 Pioneers. Curabba hit an RBI triple in the bottom of the fifth to extend the lead to 5-2. Bailey shut down the Lions offence from there to complete the victory.

In game two, Christopher Mattoon pitched a complete game and had seven strikeouts earning the victory for the Pioneers. Curabba went 3-4 with an RBI and a run scored, Kiefer went 2-4 with two RBIs, and Barinas went 2-4 with a RBI, run scored, and two stolen bases.

In the top of the first Joseph Schatz made two terrific catches in center field to keep the Lions off the scoreboard. In the bottom of the second the Pioneers broke the scoreless tie by scoring two runs on an error by the Lions. The next batter, Tyler Petery hit an RBI triple to extend the lead and Barinas followed that by driving home a run with a single. Barinas scored on an error after that, and the Pioneers pushed the lead to 6-0 when Curabba drove home a run on a triple.

The Pioneers added two more in the bottom of the seventh inning on a two run single by Kiefer. The Lions would score two in the ninth before a double play ended the game.