Houghton Drops Two Games Against Fredonia
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Houghton lost two games to Fredonia, 5-4 and 10-4, in a double header Tuesday afternoon.
Fredonia erased a three-run deficit, getting the game-tying run in the bottom of the seventh for a 5-4 game one victory.
Houghton fell behind 1-0 after an inning, but responded with a run in the second and three in the top of the third to take a 4-1 lead.
The Blue Devils pulled two runs back in the bottom of the third and tied the score at four with another run in the bottom of the fourth.
Ignacio Villalobos (Brantford, ON, Canada, Assumption College School) had a double and an RBi and
Michael Kerr (Hamburg, NY, Hamburg HS) had a triple to lead the Highlander batters.
Kyle Flemington (Burlington, ON, Canada, Nelson HS) pitched three innings, allowing one run on three hits.
Jonathan DeDell (Woodstock, VT) allowed four runs on four hits in three innings of work. He also walked five Fredonia batters.
Seth Cornell (Almond, NY, Alfred-Almond CS) who came on in relief with two out in the seventh, gave up the winning run on one hit.
In game 2 the Highlanders jumped ahead 3-0 but gave up seven runs in the fifth and lost 10-4 to Fredonia State in the first game of a double header Tuesday.
Houghton opened the scoring in the first when
Michael Kerr (Hamburg, NY, Hamburg HS) homered, driving in
Christopher McKay (Oakville, ON, Canada) who had reached base with a single to left field. The Highlanders were able to plate another run in the bottom of the second when
Jeremy Austin (Corning, NY, Corning East HS) was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on an error by the pitcher and reached third on the throw.
Michael Knapp (Brockport, NY) grounded out to second base to drive in Austin for the run.
The teams were scoreless for the next two innings, but the Fredonia bats came alive in the fifth. The Blue Devils opened the inning with four-straight hits, driving Highlander starting pitcher
Jared Knowlton (Gouverneur, NY, Gouverneur HS) out of the game and McKay to the mound in relief. Unfortunately, the change didn't affect the Fredonia batters, who notched three more hits and took advantage of a walk and wild pitch to drive in four more runs.
Fredonia scored three more times in the top of the sixth before the Highlanders pulled a run back in the bottom of the inning.
Jacob Bannerman (Wasaga Beach, ON, Canada, Stayner Collegiate Institute) doubled to center and came home on a single by
Kaiden Bowers (Brantford, ON, Canada, Assumption College School) The Highlanders had a chance to tack on more runs but stranded runners at second and third.
Bannerman was 2-for-3 with a double to lead the Houghton hitters. Kerr was 1-for-4 with a homerun and two RBI.
Knowlton pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing four earned runs on 10 hits while striking out five. McKay pitched 1 2/3 in relief, allowing six earned runs on seven hits. Bowers pitched the final inning, allowing one hit.
After the second game Tuesday, the Highlanders return to action to face Carroll (Wis.) University in a single contest on Wednesday.