Utica, NY---Russell Sage College's baseball team traveled to Utica University on Saturday for the team's first-ever Empire 8 baseball games. The two teams split as Utica took the first game 12-2, but the Gators took the nightcap, 11-2.RSC is now 4-14 overall and 1-1 in the league.
In the first game, the Pioneers combined for 12 runs off 10 hits using a balanced attack that included five extra-base hits.
RSC's rookies Christian Brown (Troy, NY/Troy) and Leandro Guzman (New Britain, CT/New Britain) each doubled in the action. Guzman was 2-for-2 at the plate with a pair of RBI's in the game. Sophomore Alex Andrew (Port Washington, NY/Paul D. Schreiber) was 1-for-4 with a run scored for the Gators.
Right handed pitcher Will Simkin (Canberra, Australia/Canberra Grammar) worked 2.0 innings with six earned runs off seven hits with a pair of walks. He took the loss, dropping to 1-3. Rookie Jaylen Cuevas (Bronx, NY/Fordham Prep) worked an inning, allowed one earned run off one hit with a walk and a strikeout before rookie Richard Acosta (New York, NY/All Hallows) appeared allowing three earned runs off one hit with two walks. Ethan Basos (Wynantskill, NY/Averill Park) threw 3.0 innings with no earned runs off one hit with a walk and a strikeout in the game for the Gators.
In the nightcap, Sage jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning as they took command of the action and the game was never tied and the Gators never trailed. A seven run eighth inning saw Sage broke open the game.
Brown belted his team-leading fifth home run, a solo shot in the fifth inning as he was 2-for-2 with two RBI's and drew three walks.
Sage's freshman outfielder Jacob Coonan (Wynantskill, NY/Averill Park) was also 2-for- 5 with two runs scored. He added a double with a stolen base. Guzman drove in two runs in the game with a run scored to go with his 2-for-5 effort at the plate. Freshman Frank Colletta (Holtsville, NY/St. John the Baptist) was 2-for-5 with two runs to go with his RBI and a stolen base.
Rookie Joe Salerno (White Plains, NY/White Plains) drove in three runs for Sage with two runs scored after going 1-1 at the plate with a pinch hit double in the eighth inning to help break open the game.
Right handed rookie pitcher Liam Doyle (West Sayville, NY/Connetquot) worked 7.1 innings for Sage in earning the win as he is now 1-2. He allowed just one earned run off four hits with two strikeouts and three walks. Right handed rookie, Colby Phelps (Troy, NY/Tamarac) worked 1.2 innings with an earned run while yielding two hits. He struck out one and walked another.
Looking ahead, the Gators were slated to face Utica University once again in a pair of Empire 8 games, but due to the impending pour weather the games have been moved to Monday, April 4 at Utica University. First pitch in the first game, a 7 inning league match-up is slated for 1 p.m. with the second game, a nine inning tilt slated for 4 p.m.
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