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UC BASEBALL LOSES HEART BREAKER TO RIT

Men's Baseball

Release Date

04/25/2007
[Go to UC Sports News]

GAME ONE BOX SCORE >>>

GAME TWO BOX SCORE >>>

ROME, NY – The Utica College baseball team lost both games of a double header in Empire 8 Conference action against RIT Wednesday at DeLutis Field in Rome. The Pioneers lost 6-3 in game one and allowed four runs in the top of the seventh to lose game two 4-3.

The Pioneers are now 4-13 overall and 0-8 in conference while RIT improved to 15-7 overall and 5-3 in the E8. The Tigers currently rank second in the conference while the Pioneers are now in fourth place. Both teams have four conference games left on their schedules.

In game two the Pioneers took a 3-0 lead into the top of the seventh inning behind a stellar pitching performance from freshman left-hander Joe Hillman (Slate Hill/Slate Hill). Kelvin Cabrera (Hoboken/Hoboken, NJ), Mike Bizzari (Auburn/Auburn), and John Tine (Whitesboro/Utica) were credited with the three Pioneer RBI. Bizzari executed a perfect suicide squeeze bunt to score the Pioneers second run and Tine crushed a sacrifice fly to dead center field to score UC’s third and final run.

RIT loaded the bases in the top of the seventh and Hillman was replaced on the mound by freshman right hander Justin Snyder (Jordan Elbridge/Memphis). Snyder walked in one run, gave up a two RBI single, and a sacrifice fly to give the Tigers a 4-3 lead. UC was unable to score in the bottom of the seventh as they lost their 12th straight game. Hillman walked just two batters and allowed eight hits in six and one third innings of work. He did not surrender a run while he was on the mound.

UC came out of the gates hot in game one taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when junior second baseman Kelvin Cabrera drove in senior catcher Geoff Stewart (Whitesboro/Marcy) and junior infielder Scott Tagliaferri (Rome Free Academy/Rome).

RIT answered right back with six runs in the next two innings to seal the game one victory. Geoff Dornes (Landsville, PA/Hempfield) hit a two RBI triple, scoring Matt George (Walton, NY/Walton) and Anthony Culotta (Rochester, NY/Gates-Chili) to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead.

Tine tallied three hits and two RBI on the day to lead the Pioneers, while Stewart went 3-for-7 and scored once. Stewart is batting .333 with a team high 18 hits this season and Tine leads the team with nine RBI.

The Pioneers return to action Saturday at Dugan Yard against host St. John Fisher College at 1 p.m. in Empire 8 Conference action.

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