HOUGHTON, NY—Over six hours and 19 innings after they started play, the Houghton Highlanders and Alfred State Pioneers split a pair of one-run games.  The Pioneers took the first game in 11 innings, 5-4 and the Highlanders scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth in game two to pick up the walk-off 4-3 victory.
 
Game 1:
Houghton jumped out to a 3-1 lead after three innings thanks to a pair of Tage Johnson (Jamestown, NY, Frewsburg) sacrifice flies and a Bryan Hodge (Thornton, CO, Community Christian) RBI double.
 
In the sixth the Pioneers touched up reliever Taylor Huntsman (Niagara Falls, NY, Niagara Falls) for a pair of runs to tie the game at three.  The Highlanders answered in the bottom half of the inning, regaining the lead when Joseph Gilligan (Ringwood, NJ, Lakeland Regional) hit a pinch-hit RBI single to left, scoring Garret Kirkpatrick (York, PA, Central York).
 
Alfred State tied the game again in the top of the seventh after Houghton closer Lucas Cornell (Almond, NY, Alfred-Almond) gave up a lead-off walk and a single, then freshman Dan Woodward hit a two-out base-hit up the middle to score Patrick Ball.
 
The Highlanders threatened in the eighth when Timothy Leathersich (Lima, NY, Lima Christian) hit a lead-off double down the left field line, but Jens Omdal lined into a double-play to end the inning.
 
In the 10^th, Cornell walked the lead-off hitter.  After sacrificing the runner to second, Austin Baker hit a base hit through the right side.  Kirkpatrick came up firing to the plate and cut down the runner by half-a-step to preserve the lead.
 
The Pioneers finally broke through in the 11^th when Thomas Shofi hit a double down the left-field line to plate the go ahead run and Kyle Kuzma retired the Highlanders in order in the bottom half of the inning.
 
Houghton starter Ned Monthie (Albany, NY, Christian Brothers Academy) pitched five innings, giving up only one run on two hits and three walks while striking out five.
 
Kuzma earned his first victory of the year for Alfred State, pitching eight innings, allowing only one run on five hits and one walk while striking out one batter.
 
Houghton out-hit the Pioneers 10-8.  Hodge and Leathersich each collected two hits apiece.
 
Game 2:
The Pioneers plated the first run of the game in the fourth when Jose Martinez knocked home Michael English with an RBI double to left.
 
Houghton responded in the bottom half of the inning after Hodge, Ethan Duryea (Concord, OH, Cornerstone Christian) and Kirkpatrick all singled. 
 
Both starting pitchers stymied the opposition.  Pioneer starter Brady Sass allowed only the one run through seven innings, striking out nine Highlander batters.
 
Houghton starter Garrett Alread (Victor, NY, Victor) matched Sass pitch for pitch, striking out eight in 7 1/3 innings, but ran into trouble in the eighth.
 
Alread walked the first batter, struck out the second, and walked the third.  John Kopicky (Centerville, OH, Centerville) came on in relief, but Shofi greeted him by driving a ball of the top of the left-field fence cap to plate a run.  The Pioneers went up by two when a passed ball and an error allowed another run to score.
 
In the bottom half of the inning, the Pioneers' reliever got a quick out on a nice play by first baseman Rafael Perozo.  Then the wheels began to roll. 
 
Chris Welch (Denham Springs, LA, Denham Springs) walked and Johnson followed with a single to right.  Hodge, Leathersich and Duryea each walked, bringing up Kirkpatrick.  The Pioneers went to the bullpen once again.  His first pitch plunked Kirkpatrick in the triceps and pinch-runner Aaron Burnside (Albion, NY, Albion) trotted home with the walk-off winning run.
 
Houghton will have over a week off before travelling to Elmira to continue conference play when they take on the Soaring Eagles at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, April 15 at Dunn Field.