Avallone Homers Twice, Pioneers Come Up Short Against No. 16 Shenandoah

The Alfred State baseball team lost 9-11 against the nationally ranked No. 16 Shenandoah University Hornets at the Henkel-Harris Field in Winchester, Virginia on Saturday afternoon.

The Pioneers recorded 10 hits, 9 runs, 9 RBIs, and 2 errors.

The Hornets recorded 14 hits, 11 runs, 10 RBIs, and 1 error.

Pioneer Leaders:

Matteo Avallone (Mahopac/Bridgton Academy) went 3-for-5 with 4 RBIs.

Owen Lansing (Lyncourt/Solvay) 3-for-4 with 1 RBI.

Gavin Moore (Hilton) had 2 RBIs.

What Happened:

Shenandoah scored 10 unanswered runs in the first five innings.

In the top of the sixth inning Moore grounded to the second baseman bringing home Lansing. 

The Hornets scored one run during the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Pioneers started to rally in the seventh inning by scoring seven runs. Avallone started with a homer to right field. Lansing singled through the left side, Sam Dickerson (Cutchogue/Mattituck) advanced to second and Bobby Sellers (Henrietta) scored. Ryan Santiago (Staten Island, NY / HS of Telecommunications) singled to right field plating Dickerson. Moore singled to center field plating Lansing. Nick Serce (Irondequoit) walked, letting Santiago score. Avallone singled to left field bringing home Moore and Devin Mersmann (Arcade/Pioneer).

Avallone hit another homer to right field in the ninth inning. 

Pioneer Pitching:

Jon White (Clarence) (L, 0-2) pitched 2 innings and allowed 7 hits, 6 runs, walked 3 and struck out 0.

Christopher Mattoon (Elmira) pitched 2 innings and allowed 4 hits, 4 runs, walked 0 and struck out 0.

Tyler Staffieri (Schwenksville,PA / Pope John Paul II) pitched 1 innings and allowed 2 hits, 1 runs, walked 2 and struck out 1.

Chris Catoire (Brooklyn/Fort Hamilton) pitched 1 innings and allowed 1 hits, 0 runs, walked 0 and struck out 0.

The Pioneers will play York (Pa.) on Sunday at 11 a.m.

- Story by Marcus Lawson, Alfred State Sports Management Student