KEUKA PARK, N.Y. — Dave Verrett doubled off of the left field wall to score Josh Tryon as Keuka College defeated Utica College 7-6 in game one of an Empire 8 doubleheader on Tuesday.

Utica College fought back to salvage a split with Keuka College (4-6, 4-6 E8). The Pioneers won game two 14-0 in seven innings.

Keuka College 7 vs. Utica College 6 – Game 1

The Wolves got off to a fast start as the first two batters had hits and just like that, Keuka was ahead 1-0. Jimmy Griffin led the game off with a single. Nick Brown followed that with a double to center. Griffin came all the way around for the lead.

Keuka added a run in the second, scoring on a wild pitch, but Utica answered with three in the third to take a 3-2 lead. That advantage did not last long as Keuka regained the lead in the bottom of the third. Tyler Broderick grounded to third with runners on the corners. Utica came home with the play but Nick Brown beat the tag to tie the game. A sacrifice fly by Verrett gave Keuka a 4-3 lead.

The green and Gold added insurance runs in the fourth and fifth with a sacrifice fly by Jimmy Griffin and an RBI single by Brady Booher to build a 6-3 lead.

Utica College got one back in the sixth. In the seventh, the Pioneers got a leadoff single. AJ Pankowski entered the game on the mound for the Wolves and got the next two batters to strikeout. After a stolen base moved the runner to second with two outs, a fly ball was lifted towards the right field line. It was perfectly placed as it fell in between the defenders for an RBI double to tie the game.

The bottom of the seventh did not last long. Josh Tryon put a charge into the ball and one-hopped the left field fence for a leadoff double for Keuka. Verrett then ended it with a double of his own for the 7-6 victory.

Lead Wolves: Verrett had the heroics, but Nick Brown was a consistent force for Keuka in the lineup in game one. He was on all four times with three hits and was hit by the pitch. The junior had a single, a double, and a triple in the game. Brown scored a run, drove in a run, and stole a base all in game one.

Utica College 14 at Keuka College 0 (7 innings) – Game 2

A walk, a single, and a home run over the centerfield fence was how Utica College started game two as the Pioneers took the early lead. They would score four runs in the first, three in the second, and two in the third for the 9-0 advantage.

The Green and Gold struggled at the plate in game two. Cade Dick had his first career hit in the sixth inning. It also was Keuka's first hit of the game. Nick Kocjan collected the only other hit for the Wolves in the second game. Game two was all Pioneers as Utica College won it 14-0 in seven innings.

KC Notes:

• Just like Saturday, it was another doubleheader split between Keuka and Utica. The Pioneers still hold the all-time series lead 5-8-1
• K.C. Howe got the no-decision in game one, pitching into the seventh inning. Howe moved into ninth on the career innings list with 116.1 over his tenure at Keuka College
• The three hits in game one for Nick Brown tied his career-high. It was the fifth time in his career that he had three hits in a game
• Jimmy Griffin had his career-best four-game hitting streak snapped in game two
• Despite not having a hit, Ryan Seales did reach base safely in game two. The junior has reached base safely in every game this season and has worked a walk in eight of the ten games
• The Green and Gold flashed some leather with three double plays turned on the day.

Up Next for Keuka College: The game at Elmira College on Wednesday has been postponed. Keuka College is next scheduled to play this Friday as they start their weekend series with Houghton College. First pitch from Kuhl Field on Friday is set for 1pm.