HOUGHTON, NY— With the tying run on third with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, Kanta Ueno laced a ground ball to the left side of the infield.  Mason Sutherland broke for home.  Russell Sage shortstop Zach Figueras made a sliding back-handed plan and cut down Sutherland at the plate, preserving a 10-9 victory for the Gators over the Houghton Highlanders.
 
Houghton jumped out to an early 6-3 lead, but the Gators plated six runs in the sixth inning to take a 9-6 lead.
 
The Highlanders earned a pair back in the bottom of the eighth, but gave up an unearned run in the top of the ninth kept the score, 10-8, Russell Sage.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, Ian Slate led off with a base hit to centerfield.  Sutherland followed with a rope to right, and in the slick conditions, the ball skipped past the right fielder all the way to the fence, scoring pinch-runner Ethan Parks, while Sutherland cruised into third.
 
After a ground out failed to score Sutherland, the second ground ball from Ueno sent him on contact, but Figueras outstanding play preserved the lead, and pinch hitter Devin Dudley grounded out to end the game.
 
GAME VITALS                           
Score: Russell Sage – 10 | Houghton – 9
Records: Russell Sage: 7-7 (1-0 Empire 8) | Houghton: 10-6 (2-2 Empire 8)
Venue: Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex, Houghton University | Attendance: 50
 
KEY STATS:
>> Nate Tyler tossed 3.1 innings of relief, allowing only one unearned run on two hits and a walk, while striking out three.
 
>> Slate finished 2-for-3 with a double, two walks, two RBI and two runs scored.  His two hits gave him 116 for his career, moving him past Jason Kauffeldt ('23) for eighth place on the all-time leader board.  Former teammates Dylan Boprey ('24, 129 career hits) and Chris VanCheri ('24, 138 career hits) are next up on the board, respectively.
 
Slate's double in the first inning was also the 25^th of his career, breaking a tie for seventh place with Michael Knapp ('16).  He is currently one behind sixth place-holder, Ethan Duryea ('18) and three away from fifth place, Taylor Huntsman ('18).

COACH'S CORNER:
"Obviously, it's disappointed to be so close and come up short.  For the most part, our guys competed well, but there are several things we need to clean up before tomorrow.
 
"Kip [Bertram] actually threw quite well, and Nate Tyler did a fantastic job of keeping them at bay in the late innings.  We came up with big hits when we needed them, but once again we couldn't limit the big inning, and we made far too many errors today.
 
"I'm looking forward to getting back after it tomorrow.  The night will be too long." – Head Coach Brian Reitnour
 
UP NEXT:
The Highlanders return to the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex tomorrow for the remaining two games of the series with Russell Sage.  First pitch of game one is slated for 12:00 p.m.