UTICA, NY— The Utica Pioneers continued to have the Houghton Highlanders' number, clipping the purple and gold with a Game One walk-off, before rapping out 16 hits in an 11-5 win in Game Two.
 
The Pioneers offense collected 31 total hits on the day, a key in giving them their fourth victory in five games against the Highlanders this season. 
 
Game 1 Score: Houghton - 9 | Utica – 10
Game 2 Score: Houghton - 5 | Utica – 11
Records: Houghton: 8-5 | Utica: 9-6
Venue: Utica College Baseball Field, Utica, NY | Attendance: 154
 
Game 1: Trailing 7-0 late in the game, the Highlanders exploded for nine runs in the sixth to take a 9-7 lead and threatened to break the game wide open but left the bases loaded.
 
The Pioneers, however, answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning, capitalizing on a misplayed bunt and a wild pitch.
 
In the top of the seventh, Joe Gross ripped a one-out single but advanced no further.
 
After Houghton retired the leadoff hitter in the bottom half of the seventh, the Pioneers hit three singles in a row to load the bases, and Shamariah McCullough laced a sacrifice fly to centerfield to plate the winning run.
 
Game 2: The Pioneers rapped out 16 base hits, putting up two runs in the second and three runs apiece in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings
 
Houghton trimmed an 11-3 lead to six runs in the eighth after Zach Parr led off with a double down the right field line, Davis McMillan tripled to right center, and Dylan Boprey ripped a single to center field.  Utica, however, escaped the threat with a strikeout and a double play to end the inning.
 
KEY STATS:
>> On Game One, the Highlanders stranded 10 baserunners, while Utica left only six.  In the second game, the Pioneers left nine men on base and Houghton seven.
 
>> Zach Parr went 5-for-7 on the day with three doubles, two RBI, and four runs scored.  Parr was also hit twice in the opener.  He reached base safely in seven of his nine plate appearances on the day.
 
>> David Wessells picked up two hits on the day, giving him 160 for his career, only two behind all-time Houghton leader Tage Johnson.
 
>> Whitney Cook and Joe Gross also picked up three hits apiece for the Highlanders.
 
>> In Game Two every Utica starter collected at least one hit; in Game One, all but one starter accomplished the feat.
 
 UP NEXT:
The Highlanders and Pioneers return to the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex tomorrow for another doubleheader.  First pitch is slated for 2:00 p.m.