HOUGHTON, NY—Joe Gross lofted a homerun just inside the left field foul pole in the top of the eighth inning to give the Houghton Highlanders a 5-4 lead and the eventual win over the SUNY Canton Roos.
 
In an odd twist of events, because Canton could not secure a playable field due to weather conditions, the Highlanders became the visiting team on their home field.
 
Houghton jumped out a two run lead in the top of the first, but Canton answered with four in the bottom of the inning thanks to a pair of Houghton errors, a pair of infield singles, and base hit to left field.
 
The Highlanders tied the score in the top of the second after Gross scored on a throwing error and Ben Closson doubled down the left field line to score Whitney Cook. 
 
The score would remain tied into the eighth as Houghton starter Griffin Tubbs began to deal.  After the first inning, Tubbs would allow only two more hits, going seven-strong while striking out seven batters.
 
After scoring two in the second, Houghton put runners in scoring position in four of the next five innings but failed to push across the go-ahead run until Grosses homer.  Closson would tack on an insurance run with a sacrifice fly later in the eighth.
 
Caleb Philips picked up his first save of the season for Houghton, tossing the eighth and ninth, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out a pair.
 
GAME VITALS                           
Score: Houghton - 6 | SUNY Canton - 4
Records: Houghton: 8-10 (3-1 Empire 8) | SUNY Canton: 3-14 (0-4 Empire 8)
Venue: Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex, Houghton, NY | Attendance: 35
 
KEY STATS:
>> The Highlanders out-hit the Roos 9-to-7, and drew nine walks and a hit-by-pitch, while the Roos walked four times.  Houghton also stole seven bases.
 
>> Tubbs lowered his ERA to 3.67 on the season.  Over his past two starts he has thrown 14 innings and allowed only three earned runs while striking out 11 batters.
 
>> Jeremy Newswanger collected three hits on the day for the Highlanders, including a double and a walk.  Wessells posted his sixth multi-hit game of the season, going 2-for-3 with two stolen bases.
 
>> Whitney Cook saw a team-high 27 pitches, walking in all four of his plate appearances.  Cook stole a pair of bases and scored two runs.
 
>> Brandon Bautista and Jesse Iacovetta collected two hits apiece for the Roos.
 
COACH'S CORNER:
"I'm proud of how our guys stayed strong throughout the game.  [Griffin Tubbs] gave us another tremendous effort.  He was tough all night long, but to come back after some hard luck and some errors in the first was fantastic.  I don't think anyone expected him to last seven innings after that first inning, but he was gutsy and efficient.  He just kept getting better as the night went on.
 
"Joe [Gross's] home run was a huge momentum swing.  He got a pitch he could drive and put a really good swing on it.
 
"Ben Closson was also outstanding tonight.  He called a great game, blocked well and threw out a key runner in the bottom of the eighth.  He also drove in a pair of key runs for us.
 
"We need to tighten up our defense a bit, especially in the first inning, and our approaches with runners in scoring position could be better, but we picked up another much-needed conference win. 
 
"SUNY Canton plays us tough.  They never give up.  The Trathen kid pitched out of some jams and kept them in it.  I expect more of the same tomorrow.  Can't wait to get back at it." –Coach Brian Reitnour
 
 UP NEXT:
The Highlanders return to action tomorrow, as they return to the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex for a doubleheader with SUNY Canton starting at 12:00 p.m.