Pioneers Open up E8 Play with Win; Harkin Throws No-Hitter
UTICA 4, Stevens 2
The Utica College baseball team opened up Empire 8 Conference play with a big 4-2 win over Stevens Institute of Technology Saturday at Dobbelaar Field. UC's
Stephen Szatko led the way with a complete game victory tossing nine innings allowing just two runs while fanning six.
Utica improves to 7-2 on the season including a 1-0 mark to open up league play and remains atop the conference in win percentage (.778%). The Ducks even their overall mark at 7-7 while falling to 0-1 in Empire 8 action.
The Pioneers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in their first at bat with two hits and the help off a hit batter and one walk.
Adam Pexton was hit by a pitch to leadoff the game and then advanced to second and third on wild pitches.
Benjamin Hobaica then walked and advanced to second on a
Ryan Watson ground out before back-to-back hits by
Thomas Dinnen and
Brandon Thomas drove in the UC runners. Dinnen singled scoring Pexton while Thomas doubled pushing Hobaica across the plate for two quick scores.
The Ducks answered right back however with two runs of their own on two hits to knot up the contest. UC returned the favor with a leadoff hit batter and a walk followed by a two out double from Brian Hennelly to tie the game up at 2-2 after one frame of action.
The teams would settle in thereafter as the game featured three innings of scoreless ball. The Pioneers regained a slight lead in the top of the fifth as Thomas roped a two out single scoring Hobaica, who walked, from second base giving UC a 3-2 edge.
Utica tacked on another score in the top of the sixth on no hits to take a 4-2 lead.
Vincent Burillo was hit by a pitch to start the inning and later scored with the aid of three walks and one Stevens' mishap.
The home team Ducks would have a chance in the bottom of the ninth as they had runners on second and third, however UC's Szatko would close out his complete game gem to give Utica its first win in E8 action.
Thomas led the UC offense with two hits and two RBI while Hobaica scored on both of his base on balls.
CANTON v St. Joseph's College Brooklyn
Sophomore
Derek Harkin (Ottawa, ON) tossed a no-hitter in the second game of a twinbill on the road but host St. Joseph's College Brooklyn swept the SUNY Canton baseball team, 5-2 and 1-0 on Saturday afternoon.
Game 1
The Roos wasted no time getting on the board in the opening game scoring both of its runs in the top of the first.
Brandon Welch (Constable, NY) singled to center field scoring
Wilson Matos (Brooklyn, NY). Later in the inning SUNY Canton executed a double steal as
Seth Douglas (Reedsburg, WI) took off for second and
Jeremy Baez (Brooklyn, NY) crossed home plate for the 2-0 lead.
St. Joseph's added one run each in the second and third innings as the teams were tied 2-2 after three. The Bears added three runs in the fifth inning to break open the game and earn the 5-2 victory.
Baez went 2-for-3 with a walk in the game, while Welch had the lone Roo RBI.
Travis Bigelow (Ottawa, ON) scattered seven hits and four earned runs over six innings. He struck out four and walked five in his first loss of the season.
Game 2
The nightcap of the doubleheader would prove to be a pitcher's duel. Harkin threw his first career no-hitter and the second in as many seasons for SUNY Canton. The sophomore struck out two and walked seven batters in six innings.
St. Joe's (5-8) scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the second due to four walks and a fielding error. The Roos (4-11) had a great opportunity to score in the top of the fifth. Douglas singled up the middle and
Chris Roenbeck (Plattsburgh, NY) followed with a base hit through the left side.
Juan Rosa (Naguabo, Puerto Rico) loaded the bases with one down after a third straight single. However, the inning would abruptly come to an end when
Jesse Barton (Belle Glade, FL) lined out into a double play as Rosa got caught off first.
Despite the strong performance on the mound Harkin drops to 1-2 on the season.