CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. — For the second time in program history, the Wolves secured a berth in the Empire 8 Conference Baseball Tournament with a 6-5 victory against Elmira College on Thursday at Finger Lakes Community College.
Senior
Derek Novicki led Keuka College (12-18, 8-11 Empire 8) with three hits in the win with a single, a double, and a triple. Novicki scored two runs and drove in two as well.
Evan Cuba drove in two runs and scored one himself.
Ian Ruhmel and
Jackson Loper each had two hits for the Wolves.
Keuka College 6 vs. Elmira College 5
The Soaring Eagles threatened in the first as they loaded the bases with one out.
Alex Evans made a nice play at short diving behind the bag and getting the force out but allowed a run to score as Elmira took a 1-0 lead.
Keuka College got on the board in the bottom of the third inning.
Alex Evans singled to lead off the inning. Later,
Grady Kessler walked. Both came around to score as
Derek Novicki ripped a triple to right, giving the Wolves a 2-1 advantage. Novicki scored one batter later on a sacrifice fly by
Evan Cuba to make it 3-1.
The Wolves added to their lead in the fourth, started by a leadoff walk by
Michael Brown. After getting bunted to second, he scored on a two-out single up the middle by
Ian Ruhmel for the 4-1 advantage.
Elmira quickly looked to respond. The visitors got a walk and RBI double to start the fifth inning, but
Lucas Gilbert retired the next three batters via the strikeout to end the inning.
Keuka took advantage of a bases-loaded walk in the fifth to make it 5-2, but Elmira College scored three in the top of the sixth to tie the game.
Two quick outs greeted the Wolves in the bottom the sixth. Novicki and Cuba teamed up for the Wolves to give the lead back to the Green and Gold.
Derek Novicki doubled and then scored from second on a single by
Evan Cuba to make it 6-5.
Mason Smith closed the game for the Wolves. He pitched the final four innings for the Green and Gold. He retired nine of the final ten batters, including the last seven in order to secure the conference victory for Keuka College.
KC Notes:
- The Wolves swept the season series with Elmira College. Keuka College now leads the all-time series 13-11-2
- Keuka College will play in the Empire 8 Tournament for the second time in program history. The Wolves previously advanced to the postseason in the 2021 season
- Mason Smith pitched the final four innings for the Wolves, allowing two hits and two runs. He recorded his team-leading fourth victory of the season
- Luis Rivera started on the mound for the Wolves going two innings. Lucas Gilbert followed for the next three
- Novicki's double was the 24th of his career. The senior sits in eighth on the career list at Keuka College. He also entered the top ten list for RBIs in a career at Keuka College
Up Next for Keuka College: The Wolves will wrap up the regular season with three games at Alfred University. Keuka and Alfred will square off in a doubleheader on Saturday and then close the 2026 regular season with a single game on Sunday.
