HORSEHEADS, N.Y. — The Keuka College Baseball team split an Empire 8 Conference doubleheader at Elmira College on Tuesday afternoon.
Keuka College (9-10, 3-5 Empire 8) won the first game of the doubleheader 7-1, but the Wolves fell in game two 14-4.
Keuka College 7 at Elmira College 1 – Game 1
The Wolves struck first on Tuesday as
Alex Evans singled and moved to second on a walk. A two-out single by
John Valinoti brought home Evans for the 1-0 lead.
Keuka College added to their lead an inning later as Keuka College scored five runs on five hits in the top of the second.
Ethan Drinon led off the inning with a single and stole second.
Ian Ruhmel singled to leave runners at the corners and a hit by
Owen Garvey scored Drinon. After an error loaded the bases, Evans delivered a two-run double for the Wolves to make it 4-0.
Derek Novicki scored one on a sacrifice fly and Valinoti followed with another RBI single to push the lead to 6-0.
The lead would be more than enough for
Keegan Ferris. The reigning Empire 8 Pitcher of the Week was in control of the Soaring Eagles on Tuesday. He tied his season high with six strikeouts in the game.
Elmira pushed a run across in the fourth, but the Wolves got that run back in the sixth. Ferris closed the game out for his second consecutive complete-game victory as Keuka College defeated Elmira 7-1.
Elmira College 14 vs. Keuka College 4 (7 inn.) – Game 2
Keuka College looked to continue the momentum as the Wolves took the lead in the second inning. A two-out single by
Ian Ruhmel put runners on the corners and the Wolves executed a double steal to score a run. They later added a run on an error for the 2-0 lead.
Elmira led off the bottom of the third with a solo home run and tied the game later in the frame on a sacrifice fly.
Another home run gave Elmira the lead in the fourth, but the Wolves answered back in the fifth.
Kyle Wood plated a pair with a double to give Keuka the lead back at 4-3.
However, the lead was short-lived as Elmira plated four in the bottom of the inning to make it 7-4 Soaring Eagles. That started a run of 11 unanswered for the home team as Elmira College defeated Keuka College 14-4 in game two.
KC Notes:
- The 23-game series between the Wolves and Soaring Eagles has been very tight. With the split, Elmira leads the series 11-10-2
- Keegan Ferris earned his third victory of the season in game one. He has pitched a complete game in all three wins. He did not allow a walk on Tuesday
- Alex Evans led the offense in game one. He had three hits in the win, driving in two runs and scoring two as well
- Ian Ruhmel stayed hot going a combined 3-5 on Tuesday. His batting average has climbed to .345 on the season, ranking in the top ten in the Empire 8
Up Next for Keuka College: The Wolves remain on the road in conference play this weekend as they play their three-game series at Russell Sage College.