The Alfred State baseball team scored a pair of runs and had the bases loaded in the 9th as they tried to rally at Houghton on Monday night. The Highlanders were able to get out of the jam to earn the 4-3 victory.

Houghton got on the board in the 1st inning when they were able to take advantage of a two out error to make it 1-0.

Alfred State tied it in the 2nd when Josh Laurie (LeRoy) scored all the way from second when Connor Pingitore (Amsterdam/Broadalpin-Perth) singled to deep short.

Houghton scored three in the 3rd to take the lead for good. Jose Morales scored on a wild pitch and Zach Parr followed with a two-run double to left center.

Neither team could get on the board until the Pioneers rallied in the 9th. Tim Holler (Brewster) drew a pinch hit walk to start the inning, Brody Burdett (Scottsdale, AZ) hit a single to right after a fly out, Nick Serce (Irondequoit) drew a walk to load the bases. With Justin LoTemple (Greece Athena) batting a wild pitch scored Holler and a RBI groundout made it 4-3 with two outs. Matteo Avallone (Mahopac/Bridgton Academy) drew a walk and Jack Henby (Hornell) worked back from a 0-2 count to load the bases with a walk. On a 3-2 count with the bases loaded Jared Couch was able to get a pop out to end the game.

Jeremy Wilcox and Couch combined to allow just four hits in the contest. Wilcox went the first six innings and allowed three hits, one run, three walks, and struck out two while Couch went allowed one hit in the final three innings. He walked five and struck out one.

Christopher Mattoon (Elmira) was impressive in his first collegiate start. He tossed 7.2 innings allowing four hits and three earned runs while walking two and striking out seven.

Alfred State collected only four singles in the game but drew eight walks and were hit by two pitches. The team stranded 13 runners on base.

The Pioneers have added a game to their schedule for Wednesday (3/24). They will host Ithaca at 4 p.m. before beginning AMCC play on the weekend.