HOUGHTON, N.Y. — The Keuka College Baseball team split an Empire 8 Conference doubleheader with SUNY Poly on Sunday.
The two games were played at Houghton University. Keuka College (11-17, 7-10 Empire 8) won the opener 11-10 in 12 innings. The Wildcats bounced back and took game two 11-3.
Keuka College 11 vs. SUNY Poly 10 (12 innings) – Game 1
The Wildcats jumped out to a quick lead over Keuka College. SUNY Poly scored three runs in each of the first two innings. The Wolves plated one in the first on an error and a run in the second on a balk as they trailed SUNY Poly 6-2 after two.
SUNY Poly added a run in the top of the third, but the Wolves cut into the margin with three in the bottom of the inning.
Ian Ruhmel worked a two-out walk to load the bases. He joined
Derek Novicki, who walked, and
Evan Cuba, who singled earlier in the inning. Senior
Michael Brown delivered on Senior Day with a two-run single to make it 7-4. The Wolves then executed a double steal with Brown taking second and Ruhmel stealing home to cut the margin to two at 7-5.
The momentum went in favor of the Wolves as starting pitcher
Luis Rivera struck out the side in the top of the fourth. Rivera pushed the strikeout run to four with the first batter in the fifth, but Poly would plate a pair in what would be his final inning of the day.
Singles by
Grady Kessler and
Derek Novicki quickly started the bottom of the fifth. Those would be the only hits of the inning for Keuka, but the Wolves would score three runs in the frame.
Ian Ruhmel executed a squeeze bunt where everyone was safe for Keuka.
Michael Brown was then hit by the pitch to force in a run, and
Dan Mrowinski had a sacrifice fly to make it a one-run game.
SUNY Poly got an insurance run back in the seventh, but Keuka answered back with an RBI double by
Grady Kessler in the eighth, but the game would go to the final inning with Keuka trailing by one.
Evan Cuba led off the ninth with a single for the Wolves.
Jay Antinore entered as a pinch runner. Before the next at-bat was over, Antinore took second on a wild pitch, third on a passed ball, and scored on a wild pitch to tie the game.
Both teams had chances in extra innings, but remained off the board. It would go to the bottom of the 12th inning.
Michael Brown worked a one-out walk for Keuka.
Nate Clark pinch ran for him and moved to second on a passed ball. With two outs, Clark stole third base.
Mike Dutch was at the plate for the Wolves. He hit one to center, out of the reach of a diving outfielder, for a single to score Clark as the Wolves walked it off with an 11-10 victory.
SUNY Poly 11 at Keuka College 3 – Game 2
SUNY Poly opened the scoring in game two with a run in the top of the second, but the Wolves answered right back.
Alex Evans delivered a two-run double for the Wolves to make it 2-1 Keuka.
The lead would be short-lived, however, as SUNY Poly quickly answered with four runs on just a pair of hits to take a 5-2 lead. That sparked a 10-0 run for SUNY Poly over the final five innings.
Keuka College got one run back in the bottom of the seventh on a sacrifice fly by
Derek Novicki, but the game was in hand as SUNY Poly took the nightcap 11-3 for the conference split.
KC Notes:
- The Wolves are now 16-22 all-time against SUNY Poly, the third most-played opponent in program history
- Keuka College improves to 3-0 in extra-inning games this season, with all three victories coming within conference play. Dating back to last season, the Wolves have won five straight in extras
- Six hitters recorded at least two hits for the Wolves in the game one victory. Mike Dutch led the way with three, including the game-winning single
- Michael Brown drove in three runs to lead Keuka
- Luis Rivera finished with six strikeouts in his five innings of work
- Senior Wyatt Ernst allowed just one run in four innings of relief for Rivera
- Senior Mason Smith pitched the three extra frames for the Wolves, holding the Wildcats off the board for his third win of the season
- Michael Brown stayed hot for the Wolves in game two, going a perfect 3-3 at the plate
Up Next for Keuka College: The rubber match of this three-game Empire 8 Conference series will come on Monday as Keuka College will host SUNY Poly. The game will be played at Kuhl Field on the campus of Keuka College with a 1 p.m. first pitch.