HOUGHTON, NY—In the conference-opening doubleheader for both teams, the Houghton Highlanders and the Utica Pioneers split, one game apiece.
 
The Pioneers scored three runs in the top of the seventh, overcoming a 3-1 Houghton lead to take the first game.
 
Houghton stormed back in the second, pounding out 13 hits in route to a 10-6 victory to even the series.
 
GAME VITALS                           
Game 1 Score: Utica – 4 | Houghton - 3
Game 2 Score: Utica – 6 | Houghton – 10
Records: Utica: 6-5 | Houghton: 7-6
Venue: Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex, Houghton College | Attendance: 40/40
 
Game 1: The Pioneers plated three runs in the top of the seventh, capped by back-to-back doubles by Tom Carrigan and Adam Nell, to overcome a 3-1 Houghton lead.
 
Houghton threatened in the bottom of the seventh, putting runners on first and second with two outs, but Utica pitcher Griffin Baur induced a game-ending fly out to left field.
 
Highlanders' starter Victor Cavalieri went the distance in the losing effort, striking out 11 Utica batters.
 
Game 2: Utica jumped out to an early three-run lead in the top of the first thanks to a two-out Houghton error.
 
Highlanders' starting pitcher Brandon Joslin would quiet the Pioneers bats from there, allowing only two more hits and zero runs through six innings of work.
 
Houghton earned one run back in the bottom of the first when Taylor Huntsman singled home Ben Closson, and another in the second on a Jeremy Newswanger sacrifice fly.
 
With the Pioneers leading 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth, Houghton finally broke through, as Ethan Duryea lined a two-RBI base hit up the middle to score Huntsman and Tage Johnson.
 
The game remained 4-3 until the bottom of the seventh when John Zamites laced a two-RBI double past a diving first baseman into the right field corner, then stole third and scored on another Newswanger sacrifice fly.
 
David Wessells would add an insurance run with a double off the right field wall in the seventh and Houghton would tack on two more in the eighth to make the score 10-3.
 
Utica fought back in the top of the ninth, scoring three runs, but Caleb Philips came on in relief to close the door, striking the final batter of the game.
 
KEY STATS:
>> The Pioneers held a slight edge in hits in game one, 11-8, while the Highlanders returned the favor in game two, 13-7.
 
>> Five of Houghton's eight hits in the first game went for extra bases.
 
>> Taylor Huntsman finished his day with five hits, including three doubles, and went 4-for-5 in the second game.
 
>> Tage Johnson reached base safely in seven of his eight plate appearances on the day, going 2-for-3 at the plate with two doubles.  Johnson walked three times and was hit by a pitch twice.
 
>> Wessells, Closson, Duryea and Zamites each collected three hits apiece on the day.
 
>> Christian Tiffin collected four hits on the day for the Pioneers.
 
COACH'S CORNER:
"It's always heartbreaking to lose the way we lost the first game.  But the truth is that Utica fought to the very end and just beat us.  Give credit to them for battling.
 
"I told our guys between games that we really didn't need to change much going into the second game, and I'm really proud of the mental toughness they showed to come back in that second game. We put ourselves in a hole early, but we fought through the adversity.
 
"We created opportunities and got some big hits when we needed them.  Ethan [Duryea] and Johnny [Zamites] came through in some clutch situations and Taylor [Huntsman] was simply on fire today. 
 
"I thought that our pitchers gave us tremendous efforts and we made some quality plays when we needed them.
 
"I know we came away with a split, but I'm proud of how our guys played today.  Utica always plays us tough.  They're a good competitor and we're looking forward to the rubber-match on Monday." –Coach Brian Reitnour
 
UP NEXT:
With the series on the line, Utica and Houghton will return to the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex on Monday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. for a single, nine-inning game.