UTICA, N.Y. -- Houghton baseball lost its first game of Day 2 at the Empire 8 Tournament, 6-0, to SUNY Canton, but wrapped up their season later in the day with a 13-3 win over Utica College.

The win gave the Highlanders a fifth place finish in the inaugural event being hosted by Utica College.

Game 1: SUNY Canton 6, Houghton 0

Houghton was held to just three hits in their opener, as the Canton Roos put two runs across in the second and added solo tally in the third to go up 3-0. The Roos added two more in the fifth and another in the seventh to end the scoring. The Highlanders, who were plagued by five errors, never really threatened. They advanced a runner to second base on four occasions, but each time the next batter ended the inning with the final out.

Tim Leathersich (double), Patrick Parsons and Enrico Sukhdeo produced the only Highlander hits. Sukhdeo also added two stolen bases. Houghton batters struck out 11 times.

Ned Monthie pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing five runs (two earned) on four hits. Joel Clabaugh pitched the final 4 2/3 and allowed one run on four hits.

Game 2: Houghton 13, Utica 3

In the fifth place game against host Utica, the Highlander bats finally came alive. After giving up the game's first run in the top of the first, Houghton scored twice in the bottom half of the inning. Two singles put a runner into scoring position and Garret Kirkpatrick tripled to drive both runners home. The Pioneers regained the lead with two more runs in the top of the third, but that's all the scoring Utica would get the rest of the afternoon. 

Michael Kerr doubled to get on in the third, and after advancing to third on a ground out, came home on a wild pitch. Four hits and four runs followed for the Highlanders in the fourth, highlighted by a Michael Knapp single that scored two Highlander runners. Houghton added another run in the fifth, before exploding for five runs on seven hits in the sixth. The inning was highlighted by freshman Tage Johnson's second homer of the year that scored two runs.

Johnson finished the game 4-for-4 with a double, home run, three RBI and three runs scored. Mike Kerr was 3-for-5 with a double and triple, while Brett Rapan, Mike Knapp, Garret Kirkpatrick and Chris McKay each registered two hits. Rapan scored three times.

Jared Knowlton pitched five innings, allowing three runs on nine hits. Chad Muise allowed one hit and struck out two in one inning of work. Kyle Flemington pitched an inning and did not allow hit, and Alex Gowing closed it out with one hit in an inning of work, while striking out two Pioneers.

The Highlanders finish the season with a record of 18-22.