UTICA, N.Y. (April 6, 2019)  – Sophomore Roy Iversen did not allow a hit in 4.0 innings pitched to help the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team defeat Utica College 5-2 Saturday afternoon in an Empire 8 Conference matchup.

Iversen (3-0) struck out two batters on his way to keeping his perfect record on the mound. Sophomore Alex Smith registered five strikeouts in the final three innings to earn the save for Stevens. The Ducks improved to 10-12 on the year and 7-2 in conference play. 

Griffin Baur (1-4) was dealt the loss as he allowed three runs over 5.0 innings on the mound, despite striking out five. Utica fell to 4-13 this season and 0-3 in E8 action.

"Nice way to start this trip," expressed head baseball coach Kristaps Aldins. "Nothing was easy about today and Utica played tough all game. We are thrilled at the way our bullpen performed in this one. Roy, Eli Zuckerman and Smitty all turned in gutsy performances, which led to the win. Tomorrow we'd like to leave a few less runners stranded offensively as we were knocking on the door all day, but couldn't quite get the big hit to cushion our lead."

After graduate student Tommy Baronner singled to start the first inning, junior A.J. Falconite hit a two-run homer to give the Ducks an early lead. 

The Pioneers registered their first run of the game when Maki Medici worked a walk with the bases loaded in the bottom of the second to bring in Charles McAllister. 

In the top of the fifth, Baronner and Falconite each singled before senior Donny Gherardi walked to load the bases. Sophomore Thomas Paulich followed with an RBI groundout to put Stevens up 3-1. 

Paulich recorded another RBI in the top of the seventh when he hit a sac-fly to right field, allowing Baronner to score the fourth run. 

Utica added their second run of the game as Medici collected another RBI as he reached on a fielder's choice with the bases loaded. The second baseman attempted the throw the runner out at home, but an error allowed Thomas Giglio to score. 

In his fifth at bat of the game, Paulich registered his third-straight RBI as he singled to right field in the top of the ninth to send home Gherardi. 

Junior Patrick Rood led the Ducks defensively with nine putouts, while sophomore Nathan Zuckerman added five.   

Up Next

• The Ducks return to Utica for a conference doubleheader tomorrow, April 7 at 12 P.M. and 2:30 P.M. 

Facebook: "Like" Stevens Athletics         
Twitter: @stevensducks
Instagram: @stevensducks
Snapchat: ducks_athletics
#AllRise