HOUGHTON, N.Y. - The Hilbert College baseball team opened the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference portion of their 2016 schedule in dramatic fashion this afternoon. 

The Hawks hosted their home opener at Houghton College's turf field and came away with a split decision against Pitt-Bradford in two well played games.

Senior Paul Wujek hit for the cycle in an 11-10 Hilbert come-back, night cap victory after the Hawks gave up a 3-2 loss in the opening game.   Hilbert improved to 4-6 overall and 1-1 in AMCC play and pushed Bradford to 6-10 overall (1-1).

Wujek, the lead-off batter, connected on the first pitch in the first inning of the second game and got Hilbert on the board.  His teammates had to encourage him to come home since Wujek wasn't sure his ball stretched over the fence.  Kevin Moore's single RBI gave Hilbert a quick 2-0 lead before the Panthers knew what hit them.

Sal Carroccia took care of business on the mound and helped limit Bradford from crossing home plate through the next five innings. 

Meanwhile Wujek was at it again.  He popped a double to centerfield and knocked home Bradley Perrin for a 3-0 advantage in the bottom of the second inning.

The Hawks had a big fifth inning as they finished with five hits and four runs.  Joshua Maier doubled to left center and made it home, along with Jesus Rivera who singled to get on base, thanks to Perrin's 2-run single to right field.   A few batters later, Ryan Bonafede also poked a 2RBI single through the left side to pad the Hawks' hold to 7-0.

After five of Bradford's first six batters in the top of 6th hit singles, the Panther's used a double to left center to cut the difference to three runs.  Michael Voveris entered the game and gave up a sac fly to left field but then shut down their final batter.

Maier reached on a short stop error and Rivera doubled to center putting runners in scoring position to start the bottom of 6th.  Tyler Shaw's pinch hit single turned into another two runs that built a 9-5 lead.

Bradford trailed 9-8 after back-to-back doubles sent home three runners in the 7th.  Christopher Newman gave-up one more hit which pushed the tying run to the plate before the inning break.

After the Hawks were hit-less in the quick bottom half, Bradford tacked-on one more run in the top of the 8th.  Winfred Nelson got the first batter to fly out but served the second batter a double to left center. The Panthers' fourth batter gave the visitor's their first lead when he poked one to center field.

With three ground-outs in the bottom half, Hilbert went quickly back out on defense and kept Bradford off the score board through five batters.

Trailing 10-9, Mark Anderson entered as a pinch hitter but struck-out swinging.   Perrin reached on a shortstop error and advanced to second base on the same play.  Wujek, facing a full count, hit a triple which knotted the game again at 10-10.  Anthony Wurstner then reached base as the second baseman bobbled the ball when making the decision to throw Wujek out at home.  Wujek's slide beat the throw and the Hawks stormed the field in celebration.

Wujek went 5-for-6, scored three runs and tallied 3RBIs.  Ryan Bonafede knocked in a pair of RBIs connecting on 2-for-4 while tossing a runner out at second base.  Jesus Rivera and Bradley Perrin each finished with two hits and sent home a pair of RBIs.

Hilbert collected 15 hits but left 10 on base.

Carroccia faced 22 batters and fanned nine hits, five earned runs and struck-out three through five innings.  Cartaginese picked up his second win of the season (2-1) in one inning of work.

Earlier in the day, Justin Hulbert pitched a complete game and collected his second double-digit strike out day.  Hulbert faced 32 batters, struck out 10, walked two and gave up three earned runs as he earned his first loss of the season.

Ryan Bonafede, Kevin Moore and Bradley Perrin each went 2-for-3 with Moore and Anthony Wurstner knocking in Hilbert's only runs.

Hilbert picked-up eight hits with Erick Flores and Perrin grabbing doubles in the game.

Moore's single in the bottom of the 1st got the Hawks on the board first.  Bradford responded in the top of the 2nd and again in the top of the 3rd to take a 2-1 lead.

Perrin's double in the bottom of the 3rd got him on-base.  Wujek's sac bunt moved him to third and Wurstner's ground-out gave Perrin time to tie the score at 2-2.

The game then moved through three score-less innings until Bradford knocked in the winning run in the top of the 7th.  The Panthers opened with a triple to right center and made it home off a single through the middle. 

Hilbert hit into a double-play and struck out swinging to end the game with a 3-2 loss.

Hilbert returns to action tomorrow when they travel to Elmira College for a non-conference HOME game against the Soaring Eagles.  The 1pm double header will be played at Dunn Field.