ALFRED, N.Y.—After falling behind 5-0 in the first inning, the Houghton Highlander (11-14, 2-8 Empire 8) bats exploded, scoring 23 runs over the final six frames to defeat the Alfred State Pioneers (4-24), 23-9.
 
Houghton cut the early Alfred lead in the third when Bryan Hodge and Jeremy Newswanger rapped out back-to-back two-out, two-RBI base hits.
 
The Highlanders then took the lead in the next inning.  David Wessells tripled to deep right and Nicholas Melchiore followed with a hard-hit ground out to second before Ethan Duryea hit a two-out double to deep centerfield, plating two more runs.
 
The Houghton offense continued to roll, scoring two more in the fifth, five in the sixth and four in the seventh.  Then in the eighth Tage Johnson put an exclamation point on the day with a monstrous two-run homerun to centerfield.
 
Carl Holmes picked up the win for the Highlanders on the mound, and Griffin Tubbs tossed three innings of scoreless relief.
 
Houghton tallied 21 hits on the day and accumulated 11 walks and three hit-by-pitches.
 
Melchiore posted three hits and five RBI.  Johnson also collected three hits and scored five runs.
 
Duryea, Newswanger and Garret Kirkpatrick each added two hits apiece.
 
Edward Monthie and John Kopicky each picked up their first collegiate base hits.
 
Coach's Corner:
"I'm probably most proud of the fact that after having an abysmal first inning, and trailing 5-0 after three innings, that our guys came back the way that they did.  They believe in themselves and in each other. 
 
"There were some things that need improvement, especially defensively, but we definitely brought our bats to work today.  We're pretty tough up and down the lineup, and have some guys that can play on our bench, too.
 
"Carl [Holmes] figured it out after the first inning and he's a gamer.  He battled and Griffin [Tubbs] did a nice job out of the pen.  I'm very proud of our team." –Coach Brian Reitnour
 
Next Time Out:
Without much time to rest, the Highlanders return to action tomorrow at Keuka College.  Game time had originally been slated for 12:00 p.m., but with rain showers threatening in the afternoon the first game has been moved up to 10:00 a.m.