HOUGHTON, NY— After leading 5-0 through the first five innings of the opening game, the wheels came off the bus for the Houghton Highlanders, as they allowed six runs over the final two frames, snapping an eight-game win streak.
 
Houghton bounced back in the nightcap behind a stellar pitching performance from Aiden Talcott, who earned his fourth victory of the season, 8-1.
 
GAME VITALS                           
Game One Score: Alfred - 6 | Houghton – 5
Game Two Score: Alfred - 1 | Houghton – 8
Records: Alfred: 3-12 (1-2 Empire 8) | Houghton: 10-5 (2-1 Empire 8)
Venue: Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex, Houghton University | Attendance: 150
 
GAME ONE:
After retiring the first 11 Saxons in a row, Ethan Cetton looked untouchable.  While he lost the perfect game with two outs in the fourth, he put up five straight zeroes, and the Highlanders built a 5-0 lead.
 
But in the top of the sixth, a leadoff base hit and a homerun to left by Jeff Petrozzini gave Alfred life.  The next batter reached on a strike out-passed ball, followed by a hit-by-pitch, a walk and another hit-by-pitch, and the veneer started to show.  Eventually the Saxons would plate three more runs, tying the game, 5-5.
 
In the seventh, Daniel Allard struck out the lead off man, but the second batter reached on a high chopper to third.  A dropped pop up in foul territory gave the third batter new life and he eventually walked, putting runners at first and second.
 
The next batter hit a sharp ground ball to first, which the Houghton first baseman speared and tried for the force at second.  But the ball sailed into left field, and the Saxons scored the go-ahead run.
 
Alex Beaird picked up his second win of the season for Alfred, tossing all seven innings while allowing five earned runs on six hits and three walks, while striking out three.
 
GAME TWO:
Aiden Talcott allowed only three hits over eight innings, as the Highlanders bounced back in the second game with an 8-1 victory.
 
Kanta Ueno broke a 1-1 tie in the third, scoring Christian Tortorici with what would be the eventual game-winning run.
 
Ueno would finish the game 5-for-5 with four RBI, tying a Houghton program record for most hits in a game.
 
Qingyang Feng would come a homerun away from the cycle, going 3-for-5 with a triple, double and single, along with two RBI and two runs scored.
 
Houghton would turn three double plays in the game.
 
KEY STATS:
>> Ueno finished his day 6-for-7 with six RBI and two stolen bases.  He is now hitting .422, tied for best on the team with Nate Hall. 
 
>> Christian Tortorici went 5-for-8 with three RBI, four runs scored, a double and two stolen bases.
 
>> Talcott leads the team with a 1.86 ERA, a .93 WHIP, and an opponent's batting average of .198.

>> The Highlanders' 10-5 start ties them with the 2021 squad for the best start to a season through the first 15 games.
 
COACH'S CORNER:
"I'm proud of how our guys bounced back in the second game.  Aiden [Talcott] was outstanding, and we played significantly better defense. 
 
"Kanta [Ueno] had a tremendous day, both offensively and defensively.
 
"Of course, the elephant in the room, is the disappointing finish to the first game.  We don't get that one back.  It stings because we had multiple opportunities to keep the game in check and we just didn't finish. 
 
"We are capable of more, but we're still a bit inexperienced and we need to figure out how to finish out games like that.
 
UP NEXT:
The Highlanders return to the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex on Friday, March 28 when they will host the first game of a three-game series against the visiting Russell Sage Gators at 4:00 p.m.