HOUGHTON, NY—The Stevens Ducks took down the Houghton Highlanders in both ends of Saturday's doubleheader, winning a pitcher's duel, 1-0, in game one before scoring in bunches in a game two win, 15-5.
 
Game 1: With score tied at 0-0 with two outs in the top of the seventh, Stevens leadoff hitter Jayson Yano laid a bunt base hit down the third baseline.  Yano broke for second on the next pitch but Houghton pitcher Victor Cavalieri (Rochester, NY, Northstar Christian) picked off to first.  The throw to second from Houghton first baseman Patrick Parsons (Wellsboro, PA, Wellsboro) was wide to the inside of the bag and Yano slid in safely.
 
Carlos Leon promptly followed with a base hit to centerfield to score Yano with the eventual winning run.
 
Houghton had threatened in both the first and third innings, placing runners on third base in each inning but failed to score.
 
Stevens starter Zeph Walters did not allow a baserunner in five of the seven innings he pitched, including the final four innings.  Walters allowed only two hits and one walk while striking out nine.
 
Cavalieri went the distance for the Highlanders, striking out four while allowing five hits and one walk.
 
Michael Knapp (Brockport, NY, Brockport) and Parsons had the only two Houghton hits.
 
Game 2: Four Houghton pitchers combined to walk 15 batters and the Highlander defense committed four costly errors in a 15-5 loss to the Ducks. 
 
Stevens rapped out nine hits and capitalized on the free bases afforded them by the Highlanders.
 
The Ducks opened the first by scoring two runs, one on an error, and Garret Kirkpatrick (York, PA, Central York) cut down the would-be third run at the plate with a strike from right field.
 
By the fifth inning Stevens stretched their lead to 6-0.  In the bottom half of the inning, Houghton finally pushed across their first run but stranded runners on second and third.
 
Houghton threatened again in the sixth after Kirkpatrick ripped a one-out double to left but the Highlanders could not bring him home.
 
In the seventh the Ducks broke the game open, scoring eight runs on only three hits, pushing the score to 14-1. 
 
Stevens starter Greg Jakusik pitched the first four innings, striking out three while only allowing two hits and one walk.
 
Kirkpatrick finished with two hits for the Highlanders and Knapp added a two-RBI double.
 
Houghton will finish their regular season at Alfred State on Monday when they take on the Pioneers at 3:30 p.m.