WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Hamilton College Continentals powered their way to a pair of non-conference victories over the Keuka College Wolves, winning 10-6 in the opener and 13-10 in the nightcap at Chain of Lakes Park on Wednesday, March 19.
 

Season Update

• Hamilton (5-2 overall) enjoys a day off before squaring off against Knox College in a single nine-inning contest on Friday, March 21, at 4:15 p.m. at Northeast Regional Park in Davenport, Fla. 
• Keuka (5-5), a member of the Empire 8 Athletic Conference, gave up a season-high 13 runs in the second game. 

Game 1

 

How It Happened

• Hamilton got on the scoreboard in the first inning. Chester Boynton '27 led off with a single up the middle, advanced to second on a passed ball, and moved to third on a fly out to right center. Greg Kopp '25 drove him in with a deep double to left center.
• After a scoreless second inning, the Continentals plated two runs in the third. Ethan Righter '27 hit a one-out single up the middle and scored when Michael Tallarida '26 reached on a dropped fly ball in right field. Tallarida later crossed the plate on a wild pitch that made it 3-0.
• Keuka responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning. The Continentals managed to escape a bases-loaded jam by forcing out a runner at home on a comebacker to the pitcher and getting a ground ball to the second baseman.
• Hamilton's offense responded in the fourth inning, beginning with a leadoff double down the left-field line by Andrew Millington '28. Quinn Perkins '25 advanced him with a sacrifice bunt, and Boynton drove in Millington with a sacrifice fly to center.
• The Continentals extended their lead to 5-2 with a run in the fifth inning. Kopp sparked the rally with a single to left followed by a double down the left-field line by Tallarida. With two runners in scoring position, Herman delivered a sacrifice fly to center that scored Kopp. Sam Humphries '28 plated Tallarida with an infield groundout.
• Keuka scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and took a 6-5 lead.
• Hamilton tied the game in its next at-bat by stringing together three consecutive one-out singles by Perkins, Boynton and Righter.
• After stranding two Wolves runners in the bottom of the sixth, the Continentals seized control in the top of the seventh with four runs. Tallarida stayed hot as he led off with a double down the left-field line. He advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jeremy Diaz '27 and scored on a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Henry Boehm '25. Alfonso Rada '27 followed with a two-out infield single to third, Carter Chambers '25 was hit by a pitch, and Perkins collected his third hit of the game on a single to the gap in left center that drove in Rada. Boynton was also hit by a pitch and Righter brought Chambers home with a walk. Despite a pitching change by Keuka, another walk allowed Perkins to score the 10th run. 

Notes

• Perkins led Hamilton with a career-high three hits. 
• The top five batters in the lineup went 9-for-18.
• Righter drove in two runs with two hits and earned his first win of the season on the mound. He threw two scoreless innings, allowing one hit with three walks and three strikeouts.
• Kopp drove in two runs in his first multi-hit game of the season. He singled and hit his 16th career double. 
• Tallarida ripped two doubles and scored twice. 
• Boynton went 2-for-3 hitting out of the leadoff spot.
• Gianni DiCerbo '27 and Millington smacked their first career doubles. 
• Henry Tyler '25 started on the mound and allowed two runs on three hits and one walk, and struck out five over four innings.
• The Continentals outpaced the Wolves in hits, 14-7.
• Tyler Lewandowski guided Keuka with two singles. 
• Carlos Fantauzzi led the Wolves with a team-high two runs batted in. 

Game 2

 

How It Happened

• The Wolves tacked on their first run in the top of the first inning, but the Continentals evened the score in the bottom half on a walk, a passed ball, and a fielder's choice that allowed Boynton to score. 
• Keuka regained the lead with a run in the third inning, but Hamilton quickly answered again with four runs in the bottom half. Boynton drew his second walk of the game, advanced to second on Righter's single through the left side, and came home on Kopp's single in the hole between first and second. Tallarida hit a ground-rule double to right center that drove in Righter. With two outs, Louis Friedrich '28 reached on a throwing error that allowed Kopp and Tallarida to score. 
• The Continentals extended their advantage to 8-2 with three more runs in the fourth. Singles by Perkins, Boynton and Rada highlighted the inning.
• Keuka rallied for seven runs in the fifth inning on just two hits, three walks, a hit batsman and two errors for a 9-8 lead. 
• The Continentals responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning on a bunt single and five walks. Perkins and Boynton scored the tying and go-ahead runs on wild pitches. 
• Hamilton added its final two runs in the sixth as it capitalized on three walks and a fielding error. Tallarida drove in a run when he was hit by a pitch and Rada drew a walk that forced in the 13th run. 
• Keuka's comeback attempt fell short as the Wolves managed one run on a walk, an error and a single in the top of the seventh.

Notes

• Kopp drove in two runs and scored twice.
• Tallarida drove in two runs and smacked his third double of the day.
• Boynton set a career high by scoring four times. He also drew two walks and stole two bases.
• Friedrich collected his second hit in as many games and stole two bases.
• Perkins scored three runs, singled and walked twice.
• Dillon Schmidt '28 tallied his first collegiate hit, walked and swiped two bases.
• Rada singled, walked twice and drove in two runs.
• The Continentals coaxed a dozen walks out of five Keuka pitchers.
• Hamilton's pitching staff racked up nine strikeouts with Luke Beyer '27 earning his first collegiate victory on the mound.
• Eddie Taylor '25 picked up his second save, surrendering one hit and striking out a batter in a scoreless seventh inning.
• Kyle Wood, Fantauzzi, and Ian Ruhmel recorded two hits each for the Wolves.