HOUGHTON, NY—Jared Couch induced a game ending pop-up to close out the ninth inning, squashing a late rally by the Alfred State Pioneers (1-6), leaving the tying run on third base and the bases loaded for a 4-3 Houghton Highlander (7-0) victory.
 
Trailing, 4-1, entering the ninth, the Pioneers took advantage of four walks and bloop, check-swing single to plate two runs and load the bases before Couch recorded the final out.
 
Houghton scored the deciding runs in the bottom of the third.  With the game knotted at one apiece, Jose Morales led off with a double down the left field line.  David Wessells and Joe Gross followed with a walk and a hit-by-pitch, respectively.  Morales scored on a wild pitch to give the Highlanders the lead before Zach Parr ripped a two-out double into left-center to put Houghton up, 4-1.
 
Jeremey Wilcox picked up the first win of his collegiate career, going six innings and allowing only three hits and one run, while striking out two. 
 
GAME VITALS                           
Score: Alfred State – 3 | Houghton - 4
Records: Alfred State: 1-6 | Houghton: 7-0
Venue: Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex, Houghton College | Attendance: 0
 
KEY STATS:
>> While Houghton managed only five hits on the day, four of them went for extra bases.
 
>> Parr has hit safely in all seven Highlander games this season, including multi-hit efforts in four of the past five, going 2-for-4 on the day with a double and two RBI.  He is currently hitting .542 on the season.
 
>> Alfred State stranded 13 runners, while Houghton left five on base.
 
>> Chris Mattoon picked up a tough loss, tossing 7.2 innings for the Pioneers, allowing three earned runs on four hits and two walks, while striking out seven.
 
>> The Houghton 7-0 start to the season is the best in program history. 

COACH'S CORNER:
"I'm proud of our guys for pulling this one out.  Jared [Couch] got into a bit of a jam at the end, but he gutted through.  That was important to see.
 
"Jeremey Wilcox threw a great game.  We have high expectations for him and it was great to see him bounce back and throw incredibly well.  He worked out of jams, and competed all day long.
 
"[Zach] Parr continues to do damage.  He and Wayne [Rode] are really swinging it well right now.  We're going to need a few more guys to step up before this is over, but Zach continues to come throw in the clutch.
 
"We'll enjoy the win for a few more hours, then clear the mechanism and get back to work tomorrow.  This weekend will be a very good test for us." – Head Coach Brian Reitnour
 
UP NEXT:
The Highlanders are scheduled to take on Utica College in a non-conference, four-game series this Friday and Saturday.  With rain in the forecast, the games may shuffle, but for now, the teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader at Houghton on Friday, beginning at 2:00pm.  On Saturday, the teams are set to play at Utica, with a 1:00pm start.