UTICA, NY— The Utica Pioneers completed a three-game sweep of the Houghton Highlanders on Saturday, walking-off a 2-1 victory in the first game before taking game two, 11-6.
 
Game 1: With the Highlanders clinging to a one-run lead in the bottom of the seventh, Houghton starting pitcher Brandon Joslin allowed an infield single, followed by a sacrifice bunt.  A ground out to second base pulled Houghton an out away from victory but moved the runner to third base. 
 
Joslin then induced what looked like the game-ending ground ball.  The Houghton infield, however, could not field the ball cleanly, allowing the runner to score the tying run and the batter reached first.
 
The Pioneers quickly stole second base, forcing the Highlanders to pull their outfielders in to cut down the go-ahead run at the plate.  Matthew Fitzgerald then lofted a deep fly ball over the outfielders' heads to win the game.
 
Game 2: Caleb Philips singled home the first run of the game to give the Highlanders a quick 1-0 lead in the first, but the Pioneers responded with two in the bottom half of the inning, another in the second, and one more in the fourth to open up a 4-1 lead.
 
Houghton closed the gap in the top of the fifth when Philips tripled to right and Jeremy Newswanger followed with a base hit to center.
 
In the bottom half of the inning, however, the Pioneers would gain all of the insurance they would need with shortstop Christian Tiffin crushed a grand slam over the left field wall, putting Utica up, 8-3.
 
The Highlanders would pick up single runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth, but Utica would add three more to their total to complete the victory, 11-6.
 
GAME VITALS                           
Game 1 Score: Houghton - 1 | Utica – 2
Game 2 Score: Houghton - 6 | Utica – 11
Records: Houghton: 10-13 (5-4 Empire 8) | Utica: 9-14 (5-4 Empire 8)
Venue: Utica College Baseball Field, Utica, NY | Attendance: 59
 
KEY STATS:
>> Joslin went 6.2 innings for the Highlanders in game one, picking up his fourth loss of the season while scattering seven hits, walking one and striking out five.  He has allowed only two earned runs over his last 20 innings pitched, lowering his season ERA to 1.54.
 
>> David Wessells, Ben Closson, and Jeremy Newswanger each collected four hits apiece over the two games for the Highlanders.  Caleb Philips, Wayne Rode and Joe Gross each collected three.
 
 UP NEXT:
The Highlanders return to the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex on Wednesday, April 17 for a single game against St. John Fisher at 5:00 p.m.