Six Unanswered Runs by the Pioneers Not Enough - UC Drops Second-Straight

3/18/2013 5:32:00 PM

Utica, NY

University of Wisconsin-Stout 9, Utica 8 Final

Fort Myers, FL (3-18-13) – The Utica College baseball team scored six unanswered runs late in the game however fell short losing, 9-8, to the University of Wisconsin-Stout Monday afternoon at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic held at Historic Terry Parks in Lee County, FL. Game two of the double header was cancelled due to rain.  Senior Tyler Young and sophomore Benjamin Hobaica led the way for the Pioneers with four runs scored, three hits and three RBI on the day.

UC (0-2) dropped its second straight and is back in action Tuesday morning to face Lawrence University at 10 a.m.  The Blue Devils (4-6) also return to the diamond on Tuesday for a single exhibition game set for 1 p.m. against the Minnesota Twins' Gulf Coast League team, a rookie team in the Twins organization.

Utica fell behind 5-0 after the first two innings as UW-Stout opened up the game with three runs in the first and two in the second on six hits and the help of a Utica error. 

The Pioneers responded in the third with two runs to cut the lead to three, 5-2.  Senior outfielder Angel Zapata led off the inning with a base hit and later scored off the bat of Hobaica.  Hobaica, the everyday second baseman, eventually scored UC’s second run. 

The Blue Devils answered with four more runs, over their next two at bats, on three hits and one walk to push to a 9-2 advantage heading into the bottom of the fifth.

Once again, the Pioneers woke up late and got hot scoring six unanswered runs in the next three innings however fell short by one run as they lost their second straight to open the season. 

In the bottom of the fifth, Young and Hobaica both crossed the plate after back-to-back hits.  Young led off the inning with a double and Hobaica drove him home on a single.  After stealing second, Hobaica later crossed the dish on an error by the third baseman.

UC continued its comeback with three more runs in the sixth as Stout loaded the bases on three straight walks. Young would drive in sophomore catcher Thomas Dinnen and senior shortstop Chris Podlucky on a base hit and later scored on a passed ball. 

Trailing 9-7 headed into their last at bat, the Pioneers would able to muster one run as senior Nick Dunbar singled and scored before the Blue Devils were able to snap their two-game slide.

Junior hurler Chris Jeffers registered the loss allowing nine runs (four earned) on ten hits.  Jeffers tallied three strikeouts.  Freshman reliever Robert Allen came in and closed down the Blue Devils with two shutout innings allowing just one hit and fanning two.