CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. — The Keuka College Baseball team defeated Utica University 11-8 in an Empire 8 Conference game on Tuesday afternoon at Finger Lakes Community College.  

Alex Evans drove in three runs and scored a pair for Keuka College (10-16, 6-9 Empire 8) on a pair of hits. Evan Cuba led the Wolves with three hits at the plate, scoring a pair and driving in two runs as well.

Mason Smith got the win on the mound for the Wolves. Smith entered in the fifth inning in relief and threw 4.2 shutout innings for the win. Smith allowed just one hit and struck out five Pioneers.

Keuka College 11 vs. Utica University 8
The Pioneers came out swinging on Tuesday as they sent nine to the plate with six hits and four runs in the top of the first inning for the early advantage.

Keuka College got on the board in the bottom of the second inning. Evan Cuba led off the frame with a single. Ian Ruhmel was hit by the pitch and a single by Nate Hill loaded the bases with one out. Utica was able to get a groundout by the Wolves, but allowed Cuba to score, making it 4-1. Another groundout ended the inning for the Wolves.

The offense continued an inning later for the Green and Gold. Alex Evans led off with a single and Grady Kesseler followed by reaching on an error. They were bunted over to put two in scoring position. A groundout by Evan Cuba allowed Evans to score. On the play, Kessler took third, and the throw across the diamond got away, allowing Kessler to come home.

Utica scored two in the fourth as a ball got the gap and found the deepest corner of the multi-use turf field at Finger Lakes Community College, resulting in a two-run inside the park home run. The Wolves pulled one back in the bottom of the inning on an RBI groundout by Cuba to make it 6-4.

The Pioneers answered with two more in the top of the fifth, but then the Keuka College offense exploded in the bottom of the inning. Derek Novicki was hit by the pitch to start the inning. Evan Cuba singled and the duo were bunted ahead by Jackson Loper. Ian Ruhmel singled for the Wolves to score both Novicki and Cuba. A pair of walks followed to load the bases. Keuka got a run in on a balk by Utica. The Wolves then took the lead on an Alex Evans single to score a pair, making it 9-8. The bases would be loaded again for the Wolves and another bases-loaded balk forced in the tenth run for the Wolves. Keuka capped their scoring on an RBI scoring by Evan Cuba as the Wolves took an 11-8 lead.

Mason Smith quickly slammed the door for the Wolves, getting to of the next three batters out via the strikeout as the Pioneers were retired in order.

He retired the seventh in order as well. Utica put a runner on base in the eighth, but Alex Evans erased the runner as he made a sliding stop behind second, stepped on the bag, and threw to first for an inning-ended double play.

The first two batters reached base in the ninth, but Smith got a strikeout. A flyout and groundout would end the game as the Wolves defeated the Pioneers 11-8.

Up Next for Keuka College: The Wolves will next be in action this weekend as they host SUNY Poly in an Empire 8 doubleheader. The three-game series will start with a doubleheader on Saturday at Kuhl Field. The Wolves will then host the Wildcats in a single game on Sunday. Sunday will also be Senior Day for the Wolves with a pre-game ceremony honoring the graduation class of 2026.