HOUGHTON, NY—The Keuka Wolves took home the first of three games on Friday afternoon, defeating the Houghton Highlanders, 4-2, thanks to a strong pitching performance from Spencer Brown and three-hit efforts from both Josh Tryon and Nolan Quinn.
 
Brown pitched 7.2 innings, allowing nine hits while striking out one and not issuing a single walk.
 
The Highlanders took an early lead in the first after Jason Kauffeldt singled to open the game, stole second, advanced to third on a ground out to the right side, and scored on another ground out to shortstop. 
 
The Wolves tied the game in the third then took advantage of a costly Houghton error to push two more runs across in the fourth.
 
Keuka would extend their lead to 4-1 in the seventh when Tryon placed a looping base hit on the right field line, scoring Tyler Lewandowski.
 
Houghton would get a run back in the bottom half of the inning after Davis Mcmillan led off with a single and reached third on a failed pickoff attempt.  Mcmillan would score on a groundout by Dylan Boprey.
 
The Highlanders would continue to threaten, placing runners in scoring position in both the seventh and eighth innings, but could not push across another run.
 
GAME VITALS                           
Score: Keuka – 4 | Houghton – 2
Records: Keuka: 5-14 (1-6 Empire 8) | Houghton: 11-16 (4-3 Empire 8)
Venue: Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex, Houghton, NY | Attendance: 85
 
KEY STATS:
>> Of the Highlanders 27 games so far this year, 11 have been decided by two runs or less.  Houghton is 4-7 in those games.
 
>> Houghton left seven men on base, while the Wolves stranded 16. 
 
>> Ryan Newtown scuffled throughout, picking up his second loss of the season while pitching four innings and giving up one earned run.  Will Tormey relieved Newtown, tossing three innings and also giving up one run, while Trevor Ciccotti threw the final two innings of scoreless relief.
 
>> Kauffeldt and Parr each picked up two hits apiece, while Mcmillan went 3-for-4.  In his last three games Mcmillan is 8-for-10 with two doubles and a homerun.  He is now hitting .340 on the season.

COACH'S CORNER:
"I give a lot of credit to Keuka, their pitchers just pounded the zone all day.  We put the ball in play, and even hit the ball hard a number of times, but they reached base and we didn't. 
 
"We worked ourselves out of jams all day long.  Hopefully tomorrow we won't put ourselves in those jams to begin with. 
 
"Tomorrow is a big day for both teams.  I'm looking forward to getting back on the field as soon as possible." – Head Coach Brian Reitnour
 
UP NEXT:
The Highlanders will return to the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex tomorrow for the final two games of the three-game set.  First pitch is scheduled for 1:00pm.