HOUGHTON, NY— The Houghton Highlanders and Hilbert Hawks split in a non-conference doubleheader matchup at the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex on Tuesday, with the Highlanders winning the opener, 10-0, and the Hawks holding on to win the nightcap, 8-5.
GAME VITALS
Game 1 Score: Hilbert – 0 | Houghton – 10
Game 2 Score: Hilbert – 8 | Houghton – 5
Records: Hilbert: 15-14 | Houghton: 16-16
Venue: Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex Baseball Field, Houghton University | Attendance: 85
Game 1:
The Highlanders pounded out 16 hits, including seven that went for extra bases, putting the game out of reach with a five-run fifth inning, to win their 16
th game of the year, 10-0.
Conner Benitez picked up the win, allowing only two hits and one walk over five scoreless innings, while striking out five.
Isaiah Wood and
Mark Lewandowski cleaned up in relief, each tossing a scoreless inning.
Game 2:
The Hawks broke open a 2-2 tie in the fourth with a pair of manufactured runs. They would score another in the fifth and two more in the sixth, taking an 8-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh.
Houghton loaded the bases with one out. After a strikeout, back-to-back walks put the tying run at first base.
Hilbert brought in closer Brendan Walsh, who struck out the only batter he faced on a 3-2 pitch up in the zone, to close the door and earn his fourth save of the season.
KEY STATS:
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Kanta Ueno went 2-for-4 in the first game, and 1-for-3 in the second, stretching his hitting streak to 13 games. He has had 14 multi-hit games this season, and currently has 48 hits on the season. The Houghton record for hits in a season is 51 (Michael Knapp, 2015). Ueno leads the Empire 8 in batting average by 53 points with a .485 average.
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Qingyang Feng went 3-for-4 in the first game with a double and a triple, but had his four-game hit streak snapped in game two, going 0-for-2 with a pair of walks. Feng ranks second on the team with a .375 average, and first in slugging (.643) and total bases (72), thanks to 11 doubles, five triples and three home runs.
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Christian Tortorici finished 5-for-8 on the day. In his last four games, Tortorici has 10 hits, good for a .667 average over that stretch.
UP NEXT:
The Highlanders travel to Horseheads this Friday for the opening matchup of a three-game series with the Elmira Soaring Eagles. First pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m.