HOUGHTON, NY— The Houghton Highlanders and the Russell Sage Gators split a pair of one-run pitchers' duels on Saturday afternoon, setting up  a crucial third game tomorrow that will most likely decide conference tournament positioning.
 
After tying the first game in the bottom of the seventh, 1-1, the Highlanders pulled out a dramatic victory in the 11^th inning when Dylan Boprey scored on a wild pitch.
 
The Gators even the series at one game apiece in the second game, scoring the game's lone run on a error.
 
GAME VITALS                           
Game 1 Score: Russell Sage – 1 | Houghton – 2 (11 IN)
Game 2 Score: Russell Sage – 1 | Houghton – 0
Records: Russell Sage: 16-20 (9-8 Empire 8) | Houghton: 15-20 (7-7 Empire 8)
Venue: Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex, Houghton University | Attendance: 85
 
Game One:
The Gators pushed across an early run in the second inning, when, with runners on first and second, Houghton's catcher, Chris VanCheri, blocked a ball in the dirt and the runners took off.  VanCheri attempted to throw out the trail-runner at second, but his throw sailed into centerfield, and the runner headed to third scored.
 
Meanwhile, Sage's Liam Doyle was cutting through the Highlanders lineup like a hot knife through butter. Doyle allowed only one run, in the seventh, over eight innings, giving up on seven hits and zero walks, while striking out nine.
 
Houghton's Hunter Kendall matched Doyle out for out, allowing only three hits and two walks, striking out five, until he was struck with a line drive in the foot and forced to leave the game with two outs in the fifth.  Trevor Ciccotti replaced Kendall and picked up where he left off, tossing five and a third innings without allowing a run, giving up only five hits and two walks.
 
Doyle ran into trouble in the bottom of the seventh, as the Highlanders loaded the bases without the Gators recording an out.  Doyle then hit Davis Mcmillan in the shoulder, forcing in the tying run.  While Houghton still had the bases loaded with nobody out, they failed to score another run.
 
After a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the eighth, Houghton loaded the bases again in the bottom half of the inning, but once again failed to score the winning run.
 
Finally, in the bottom of the 11^th inning, Dylan Boprey drew a one-out walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch.  After a ground ball to the right side moved Boprey to third with two outs, Sage relief pitcher, Michael Karpinski threw a ball into the left-handed batter's box that ricocheted off the Gator's catcher and Boprey raced home with the game-winning run.
 
Game Two:
For nearly six innings, Sage's Matthew Denatale and Houghton's Ethan Cetton went toe-to-toe, matching each other out-for-out. 
 
But in the top of the sixth inning Zachary Figueras led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.  Cetton then threw a ball in the dirt, which VanCheri blocked.  Figueras broke for third.  VanCheri fired a bullet to third that beat Figueras to the bag by a fair margin, but the ball deflected off the glove of the Houghton third baseman and into left field, allowing Figueras to score the game's only run. 
 
Denatale allowed only five hits and did not walk a batter, while striking out three.
 
Cetton gave up only four hits and one walk, striking out four.
 
KEY STATS:
>> Kendall, Ciccotti and Cetton combined to throw 18 innings on the day without allowing an earned run.  Combined, they gave up 12 hits and five walks, striking out nine.
 
>> VanCheri rapped out four hits on the day, including three in game one alone. 
 
>> Jason Kauffeldt stole his 22^nd base of the season, giving him 71 for his career, only two behind all-time leader, David Wessells ('20).

COACH'S CORNER:
"We played two exciting, well-played games today.  I'm proud of how we pulled out the first game.  All three of our pitchers were fantastic.  We worked quick, pounded the zone, changed speeds… everything we needed to be successful.  It's just disappointing that the only run scored in the second game happened the way that it did.
 
"I give a lot of credit to Sage.  Their pitchers threw incredibly well and kept us off balance all day.  They also rebounded from a tough loss in the first game and pulled out a tough win in game two.
 
"Tomorrow's game has significant implications for the post-season.  I'm hoping the rain holds off.  I know our guys will come ready to play." – Head Coach Brian Reitnour
 
UP NEXT:
The Highlanders and Gators will return to the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 to complete their three-game series.