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UC BASEBALL GOES 4-4 IN FLORIDA

Men's Baseball

Written By

Gil Burgmaster

Release Date

03/19/2007
[Go to UC Sports News]

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TAMPA, FL – Junior Adam Groomes (Hoboken/Hoboken, NJ) batted a team-high .364 and tallied six RBI as the Utica College baseball team went 4-4 on its spring trip down in Tampa, FL last week.

On Monday, the Pioneers split a doubleheader with Colby-Sawyer College. UC won game one 10-2. After tacking on three runs to take the lead in the second inning the Pioneers never looked back. Groomes led UC with three hits, three RBI and three runs scored. Corey Rando (Vestal/Vestal) struck out two batters in five innings of work to earn his first victory of the season. Senior shortstop Matt Doscher (Sherburne-Earlville/Sherburne) and junior designated hitter Kelvin Cabrera (Hoboken/Hoboken, NJ) each tallied two hits and two runs scored for the Pioneers.

The Pioneers dropped game two against Colby-Sawyer 4-0 after posting just four hits. Richard Hamlin (Cicero N. Syracuse/Cicero) tallied two hits, while Doscher and senior third baseman John Tine (Whitesboro/Utica) each recorded singles. Justin Snyder (Jordan Elbridge/Memphis) gave up seven hits and three earned runs in his first loss of the season.

On Tuesday, UC split with Mt. Aloysius, winning game one 8-6 but falling in the nightcap 11-2. The Pioneers scored six of their eight runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to come from behind and win game one. Eight different Pioneers tallied one hit and one run scored, while first baseman Mike Bizzari (Auburn/Auburn) knocked in a team-best two RBI. UC took advantage of four Mt. Aloysius errors to steal the victory. Freshman lefty Joe Hillman (Slate Hill/Slate Hill) tallied his first collegiate win and three strike outs in three innings of work.

On Wednesday, the Pioneers improved to 4-2 as they swept Vassar College at Fest Field. UC scored three runs in the top of the seventh to come from behind and take the 4-2 victory from Vassar in game one. Senior catcher Geoff Stewart (Whitesboro/Marcy) led off the seventh inning with a towering home run, followed by three singles to guide the Pioneers. Freshman pitcher Anthony Gurdo (Clinton/Clinton) earned his first collegiate victory, while senior closer Matt O’Brien (Marcellus/Marcellus) earned his first save of the season.

The Pioneers won game two 6-2 after posting all six runs in the bottom of the third inning. Three singles by Tine, Cabrera, and Groomes, followed by a double from Adam Keller (RFA/Rome) led to six runs and senior Justin Richards (Madrid-Waddington/Madrid) was lights out on the mound to ensure the sweep. Richards, a right hander, let up four hits and just one unearned run in the five innings of work to improve to 1-0 on the season.

Rhode Island College handed UC two losses in its final day. The Pioneers posted just two hits and made six errors in game one as they lost 8-0. Signs of a long trip wore on the pitching staff and it showed in the final game as the Pioneers surrender 12 runs in the first three innings of a 14-7 game two loss to RIC. Doscher, Tine and Bizzari each tallied two hits in the loss.

Stewart and Cabrera rank second one the team with .348 batting averages and they are both tied for first with .423 on base percentages. Stewart boasts a team-best .565 slugging %.
The Pioneers next game was originally scheduled against Cortland St. on March 21st but it has been postponed due to inclement weather. UC’s next scheduled contest is against visiting Oneonta St. Wednesday March 28 at 3:30 p.m.

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