HOUGHTON, N.Y. (April 30, 2016) – The Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team exploded for eight runs in the seventh inning of the nightcap en route to a 1-0, 15-5 doubleheader sweep of Houghton College Saturday.

The Ducks upped their mark to 24-13, and finished Empire 8 Conference play at 14-4 while Houghton dropped to 13-25, and 3-15 in the E8. Stevens clinched the No. 2 seed in the Empire 8 Conference Tournament in two weeks.

GAME 1 (Stevens 1, Houghton 0)
The Highlanders threatened in the bottom of the first, as they loaded the bases with two outs, but junior Zeph Walters fanned the next hitter to end the inning. Stevens put two on in the top of the second, as Walters led off with a single and classmate was hit by a pitch. But Houghton retired the next two hitters to escape any damage.

The hosts once again put a runner in scoring position in the third with one out, but Walters struck a hitter out and induced a fly-out to preserve the 0-0 score. After the single to lead off the third, Walters turned the next 15 hitters in order.

The Ducks struck for the lone run of the game in the seventh, as senior Jayson Yano dropped down a bunt with two outs. After swiping second, Yano was knocked home by freshman Carlos Leon. Walters would strike out the final two hitters to end the game.

Walters tossed his second straight complete game shutout, striking out nine while allowing just four baserunners. He helped his own cause by reaching base all three times. Leon, Yano and Nick Sieber all had stolen bases for the Ducks.

GAME 2 (Stevens 15, Houghton 5)
In a complete reversal of the first game, the Ducks plated double the runs in the first inning than in all of the first game. Yano led off with a double and scored on an error, while Leon came around on an RBI single by Walters. 

Stevens doubled its lead in the fourth, as junior Harrison Kaye reached on an error which scored senior Jonathan Toro, and Leon was able to draw a walk to force in a run. Senior Greg Jakusik started and allowed just two hits and a walk. Toro belted a two-run double in the fifth, but Houghton got on the scoreboard with a run on an error. Senior Danny McIntyre shut down the rally, getting the final two outs of the inning.

The Ducks broke the game open in the seventh tacking on eight runs. Yano delivered a two-run double and Sieber tripled home two runs, as Stevens also received sacrifice flies from junior Nolan Bennett and senior John Sideris.

Michael Knapp delivered a two-run double in the bottom of the seventh for Houghton big hit of the afternoon, but the defensive woes were too much to overcome, as the Highlanders made four in the nightcap which was the difference.

Yano went 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Toro was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored. McIntyre earned the win, throwing two thirds of an inning. Freshmen Charlie Ruegger, Ryan Larsen and Danny Poidomani each fanned two in an inning of work.

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