ALFRED, N.Y. — The Keuka College Baseball team split an Empire 8 doubleheader at Alfred University on Saturday.
Keuka College (13-19, 9-12 Empire 8) carried a lead into the bottom of the ninth, but the Saxons scored three for the 8-7 victory in game one. The Green and Gold bounced back in game two, ending it early with an 11-1 victory in game two.
Alfred University 8 vs. Keuka College 7 – Game 1
The Saxons took the lead with two runs in the second, but the Wolves quickly answered in the third.
Juan Gonzalez singled for the Wolves and
Alex Evans followed with a walk.
Ian Ruhmel laid down a bunt single to load the bases for the Wolves.
Derek Novicki then emptied the bases with a three-run double to give the Wolves the lead.
Keuka College added to their advantage in the fifth as
Evan Cuba tripled for the Wolves and scored on a
Grady Kessler sacrifice fly. However, Alfred got a two-run double in the seventh to tie the game and then took the lead two batters later to make it 5-4.
The Wolves took advantage of a wild pitch in the eighth to tie the game.
In the ninth, Keuka loaded the bases with no outs.
Jackson Loper had a sacrifice fly for the Green and Gold.
Patrick Altpeter followed with an RBI groundout as the Wolves took a 7-5 lead into the bottom of the ninth.
Alfred quickly cut into the lead as a pair of doubles sandwiched a groundout to make it 7-6. The bases would then be loaded and Alfred worked a walk to force in a run and tie the game. The next batter hit a sacrifice fly to score a run for the 8-7 Alfred victory.
Keuka College 11 at Alfred University 1 (7 innings) – Game 2
The Saxons carried the momentum into game two as they hit a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first for the early 1-0 advantage.
The lead would hold until the fifth as Keuka scored five runs on just one hit and without any Alfred errors. Keuka College worked five walks in the inning and was hit by the pitch twice. Both hit by pitches forced in runs. The Wolves also scored three on wild pitches as the Green and Gold took a 5-1 lead.
The Wolves added to their lead with four runs an inning later.
Jackson Loper doubled for the Wolves and scored on a single by
Nate Hill. Hill would score on a wild pitch. Later,
Derek Novicki delivered a two-run single for the Wolves to make it 9-1.
The Wolves added two runs in the seventh, again without a hit, to put the game away.
Jimmy Stewart retired the Saxons in order in the seventh to end the game with the Wolves winning 11-1 in seven innings.
KC Notes:
- The Wolves are now 7-1 all-time against the Saxons
- Jimmy Stewart earned the win for Keuka College in game two. He pitched a career-high five innings. The first-year did not allow and run and only surrendered four hits and did not walk a batter. He struck out a career best three to earn his first career victory on the mound
- Alex Evans worked four walks in game one and then added two more in game two. He climbed multiple spots on the career walks list and now sits in fifth place
- Derek Novicki had a hit in both games. The senior now has 115 in his career as he tied for tenth on the career hits list at Keuka College
- Evan Cuba had three hits on the day to set a new personal best with 36 hits on the season
- Ian Ruhmel was on base twice in game two with walks, but saw his career-best hitting streak snapped at eight games
Up Next for Keuka College: The Wolves and Saxons will square off one more time on Sunday as they close the 2026 regular season.
