The Keuka College Baseball team scored 12 runs in game two of their Empire 8 doubleheader against Houghton University to earn a split against the Highlanders.
The Wolves and Highlanders were tied in the final inning in game one before Houghton pulled it out 9-8. Keuka College (10-15, 4-10 Empire 8) then scored 12 in game two on their way to a 12-5 victory in game two.
Houghton University 9 vs. Keuka College 8 – Game 1
The Highlanders took advantage of a leadoff walk to take the early lead on Saturday, but Keuka College responded in the bottom of the first. After the first two batters were retired, an error extended the inning for the Wolves. Keuka took advantage as Derek Novicki (North Haven, Conn. / North Haven) singled to left, scoring Carlos Fantauzzi (Canandaigua, N.Y. / Canandaigua Academy) to tie the game. After a single by John Valinoti (Babylon, N.Y. / Babylon) to move Novicki to second, Tyler Lewandowski (Milltown, N.J. Spotswood) singled to give the Wolves a 2-1 lead.
Houghton responded with three in the second to take the lead back, but Keuka answered right back in the bottom of the inning. Ethan Drinon (Middleburgh, N.Y. / Schoharie) led off with a single and moved to second on a bunt. He scored on an RBI single by Alex Evans (Liverpool, N.Y. / Liverpool). Kyle Wood (Newark, N.Y. / Newark) then tied the game at 5-5 with a two-run home run for the Wolves.
Houghton took the lead back with two runs in the third and a run in the fourth. Alex Evans led off the bottom of the fourth with a triple and scored on an RBI single by Kyle Wood. He later scored on a groundout to make it 8-7.
Keuka tied the game an inning later on an RBI single by Alex Evans and the game would go to the final inning tied at 8-8.
Houghton scored in the seventh without a hit to take a 9-8 lead. Ian Ruhmel (Horseheads, N.Y. / Horseheads) worked a walk in the bottom of the inning with one out and stole second and third, but a pair of popouts would strand him as Houghton hung on for the 9-8 victory.
Keuka College 12 at Houghton University 5 – Game 2
Keuka College jumped out to the lead in the bottom of the first. Alex Evans led off with a walk and stole second. He moved to third on a Kyle Wood single and scored on an out by Carlos Fantauzzi for the lead. Wood later scored on a double by John Valinoti.
John Valinoti helped the Wolves extend their lead in the third with an RBI single to score Carlos Fantauzzi. Keuka College added a run on a Houghton University error to lead 4-0 after three innings.
The Highlanders pulled three back in the fourth, but Keuka College had a two-out rally in the fourth to answer. Kyle Wood was hit by the pitch and stole second with two outs. He scored on a single by Carlos Fantauzzi. Fantauzzi stole second as well and then scored on a double to the right centerfield wall by Derek Novicki to extend Keuka’s lead to 6-3.
Defense helped the Wolves in the sixth as Houghton put two on with one out. Hunter Corkran (North Syracuse, N.Y. / Cicero-North Syracuse) got a groundball up the middle. Tyler Lewandowski at short stepped on second and threw to first for the inning-ending double play.
The Wolves took the momentum into the bottom half of the inning. Evans singled and Wood walked for Keuka. Both scored on a double by Carlos Fantauzzi to make it 8-3. Fantauzzi swiped third base and scored on a single by Derek Novicki to extend Keuka’s lead.
Houhgton got one back in the seventh, but the Wolves answered the run in the bottom of the inning. Logan Meisner (Elmira, N.Y. / Elmira Notre Dame) doubled with two outs for the Wolves. He scored on a single by Alex Evans to make it 10-4.
The Wolves added runs in the eighth on an RBI single by John Valinoti and an RBI double by Ian Ruhmel. Houghton got a run in the ninth, but Ethan Tillotson (Pavillion, N.Y. / Pavillion) recorded three strikeouts in the ninth to end the game with Keuka winning 12-5.
KC Notes:
- The Wolves are now 8-15 all-time against Houghton
- The games were originally scheduled to be played at Keuka College, but were moved to the turf field at Houghton due to the weather. As a result, the Wolves were the home team in both games
- Alex Evans led the way for Keuka in game one. The leadoff hitter had three hits, including a triple, two runs scored, and two runs driven in
- The home run by Kyle Wood in game one was the third of the season and seventh in his two-year career at Keuka College. Wood moves into a tie for seventh on Keuka College’s career list
- Carlos Fantauzzi had a big game in the nightcap for Keuka. The senior had three hits, including a double, four runs scored, and three runs driven in. Fantauzzi also stole a career-high three bases
- The combination of Jesse Capitano (Depew, N.Y. / Depew), Hunter Corkran, and Ethan Tillotson combined to strike out 13 Houghton batters in game two
Up Next for Keuka College: The Wolves take a break from Empire 8 Conference play this week. Keuka College will play a single game at Hobart College on Wednesday. The Wolves will then travel to Alfred State on Saturday for a doubleheader against the Pioneers.
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