The Houghton College baseball lost 15-7 to the Stevens Institute of Technology Ducks on Friday night at the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex.

After two scoreless innings the Highlanders struck first in the bottom of the third. The Highlanders played a little "small ball" after Joseph Gilligan (Ringwood, NJ, Lakeland Regional) led the inning off with a double down the left field line. Bryan Hodge (Thornton, CO, Community Christian) then laid down the sacrifice bunt to move Gilligan to third, which allowed Christopher McKay (Oakville, ON, Canada, Homeschool) ground ball to the second basemen to score Gilligan from third and give the Highlander a 1-0 lead.

The Ducks came right back and took the lead right back in the fourth scoring three runs on three hits and taking advantage of the one Highlander error.

In the bottom half of the inning the Highlanders took advantage when the Ducks' pitcher walked Michael Kerr (Brentwood, TN, Hamburg ) and Patrick Parsons (Wellsboro, PA, Wellsboro) on with only one out. Trenton Unverdorben (Portville, NY, Portville) roped a single up the middle, which scored Kerr from second and cut the Ducks lead to just one run.

In the fifth the Ducks blew the game open scoring seven runs on 10 hits.

Unverdorben got things started back up for the Highlanders in the bottom of the seventh when he hit a double down the left field line to start off the inning. After a Ducks error and a walk the Highlanders had bases juiced for Bryan Hodge (Thornton, CO, Community Christian). Hodge hit a ground ball up the middle, which scored Unverdorben from third to make the score 10-3.

In the top of the eight Stevens answered the Highlanders run by scoring three more of their own.

In the bottom half of the eight the Highlanders scored four runs taking advantage of seven walks given up by the Ducks relievers. The four runs made the score 13-7.

The Ducks would end the Highlanders comeback there adding on two more runs in the ninth and not allowing the Highlanders to get anything else going offensively.

In the box score the Highlanders were led by Unverdorben who went two for five with a double and two RBI.  

The win was awarded to Gary Boardman and the loss was credited to Kevin Cassar (Mississauga, ON, Canada, Our Lord of Mount Carmel) making his record 4-3 on the year.

The Highlanders and Ducks play again Saturday at Houghton College. Game one is set to start at 1 p.m.