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 (Liverpool, N.Y. / Liverpool) singled and moved to second on a walk. A two-out single by John Valinoti (Babylon, N.Y. / Babylon) 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 (Middleburgh, N.Y. / Schoharie) led off the inning with a single and stole second. Ian Ruhmel (Horseheads, N.Y. / Horseheads) singled to leave runners at the corners and a hit by Owen Garvey (Meadville, Pa. / Meadville Area) scored Drinon. After an error loaded the bases, Evans delivered a two-run double for the Wolves to make it 4-0. Derek Novicki (North Haven, Conn. / North Haven) 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 (Elbridge, N.Y. / Jordan Elbridge). 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 (Newark, N.Y. / Newark) 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.
