Utica, NY – Chris McLean hit a homer in each of the two games, the Roos completed a big comeback in the nightcap with a four-run seventh inning, and the SUNY Canton baseball team split a doubleheader consisting of two seven inning games with the Utica Pioneers Wednesday.

In game one, the Roos jumped ahead 3-1, but late-game hitting keyed the Pioneers to five unanswered runs as they took the contest 6-3. SUNY Canton headed into the final inning of game two down 9-6 but used a four-run seventh inning to complete a valiant comeback and take game two 10-9.

THE BASICS

• Results: Game 1: Utica 6, SUNY Canton 3 | Game 2: SUNY Canton 10, Utica 9
• Location: Murnane Field – Utica, NY
• Records: SUNY Canton (7-7) | Utica (8-6)

HOW IT HAPPENED
 
GAME 1 – BOX SCORE

• The hosts struck first in the bottom of the second. A one-out walk came around to score with a run-scoring double to score the game's first run.
• Heading into inning three, AJ Campi walked, then McLean knocked a two-run homer over the left field fence and the Roos had the lead at 2-1. The damage was not done just there either with Sal Diaz scoring on an error later in the inning.
• Utica got one run back in the bottom of the fourth with a triple followed by a sacrifice fly. The Pioneers later took the later the next inning with a two-run homer to get out in front 4-3.
• A couple free passes and hits surrendered by the Roos in the sixth put Utica up 6-3.
• Offensively, SUNY Canton struggled in the closing innings, going hitless from the fourth through the sixth. However, Campi doubled to spark the Roos in the seventh, but nothing came out of the leadoff hit, and the Roos dropped game one of the twin bill 6-3.
• McLean homered and drove in two in game one, also logging a walk.
• Aohdan Sjuve made his second appearance of his career, going three innings of two earned runs in a no-decision.

GAME 2 – BOX SCORE
 

• To begin game two, McLean clubbed another home run as the second batter of the game, then Diaz followed that up with a solo bomb of his own and back-to-back jacks put the Roos on top 2-0 in the top of the first.
• Utica got both runs back in the bottom of the second though to make it 2-2.
• Korbin Lovejoy led off the second with a base hit, then stole second, advanced to third on a groundball, and scored off a sacrifice fly by Jayden Cunningham as the Roos retook the lead 3-2, only for the Pioneers to tie it at 3 the following half-inning.
• More runs came across to score in the third after Campi walked, McLean singled, then Eliezer Vázquez plated Campi with a base hit into right. Lovejoy then had a long single to the left field wall to score two more.
• The scoring festival continued into the bottom of the third with Utica scoring twice more off of two doubles and a single in the frame to make it 6-5 in favor of SUNY Canton.
• The Pioneers then proceeded to hold off the Roos in the fourth, and followed this up with their biggest inning yet, plating four runs to take the lead for the first time 9-6.
• Despite six runs in the first three innings, the SUNY Canton offense went cold after that with just one baserunner amassed in the next three innings, that being a base knock in the sixth by Lance Phillips Jr.
• Still down three in the seventh, the final frame for the began with Zack Baiani and Mark Maybee Jr. reaching, and then Diaz drawing a walk to juice the bases with one out.
• Vázquez went on the lace a single into left field which plated two and the Roos only trailed 9-8. Phillips Jr. grounded out softly that scored the tying run, and Tom Santo, who came in earlier to pinch run scored on a wild pitch as the Roos stunned the Pioneers with four in the seventh to take a 10-9 advantage.
• Zander Johnson came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh looking to shut the door. The Wells transfer struggled with command, allowing two walks early, but settled down with a three-pitch strikeout followed by a flyball to center field as the SUNY Canton comeback was completed with a 10-9 victory.
• Vázquez scored two hits with three runs driven in. Diaz and McLean both went yard, and each had a pair of runs scored.
• Johnson got his second win of the season on the mound with a scoreless seventh highlighted by two strikeouts. Karter Kenniston tossed a scoreless inning in the bottom of the sixth.

WHAT'S NEXT?
SUNY Canton next have their conference opener in a three-game series against the Oswego Lakers with the teams slated for a doubleheader on Sunday at 1 p.m. and a single game on Monday at 12 p.m. All three games will be played at Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex in Cortland.      

Discover SUNY Canton, where innovation meets opportunity. The college's career-focused educational programs emphasize hands-on and applied learning opportunities in digital design, engineering technology, health, information technology, management, public service, and veterinary technology. Faculty members bring real-world experience and exceptional academic expertise to the classroom. As a leader in online education, SUNY Canton offers unmatched flexibility with hundreds of courses and 25 comprehensive degree programs offered completely online. The SUNY Canton Kangaroos compete at the NCAA Division III level and are members of the SUNYAC. In addition to its 15 traditional teams, SUNY Canton offers coed varsity esports and cheerleading.