UTICA, NY— The Houghton Highlanders closed out their 2022 season with a pair of losses to Empire 8 rival Utica University on Saturday afternoon, 10-5 and 11-5.  Sloppy defensive play marked the day for both teams, but ultimately the Pioneers capitalized on more Houghton mistakes, pulling away in both games.
 
Game 1 Score: Houghton - 5 | Utica – 10
Game 2 Score: Houghton - 5 | Utica – 11
Records: Houghton: 13-25 (6-14) | Utica: 19-14 (12-8 Empire 8)
Venue: Utica College Baseball Field, Utica, NY | Attendance: 154
 
Game 1:
The Pioneers jumped out to a 9-0 advantage after scoring three runs each in the second, third and fourth innings, thanks in large part to series of botched bunt coverages by the Highlanders, coupled with some timely hits and some manufactured runs by the Pioneers.
 
Houghton rallied to score three runs on four hits in the top of the fifth, but left a pair of runners on base to end the inning.
 
After Utica tacked on an insurance run in the bottom half of the inning, the Highlanders added two more in the top of the sixth on an RBI single by Jason Kauffeldt and a wild pitch that scored Jose Morales. 
 
That, however, would be as close as the Highlanders would come, as Utica closer Brendan May came on the throw a scoreless seventh.
 
Game 2:
Houghton jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the top of the first when Ian Slate slapped a two-RBI single to center and Isaac Mann later followed with a two-out, two-RBI double to left.
 
The Pioneers settled in and earned two runs back in the bottom of the second when Jack Bono ripped a double to left, and May followed with a homerun to right-center.
 
Houghton padded their lead with a run in the top of the fifth, following a string of Pioneer errors, to widen their lead to 5-2.
 
Utica then scored three unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth on one hit to tie the game.
 
The game remained tied until the bottom of the seventh, when the Pioneers took advantage of three walks, a pair of wild pitches, and three extra base hits, plating five total runs and opening up a 10-5 lead. 
 
Houghton would load the bases in the top of the eighth but fail to score.  They would come no closer, as May once again came on to close out the game.