UTICA, N.Y. – The Dutchmen offense which ranked second in the Liberty League in batting average and runs and first in triples and stolen bases were able to put up 16 runs in a 16-15 offensive affair at Utica College Baseball Field Thursday afternoon.

Matt Yonta and Alec Choleva dueled as the starting pitchers for the game. Each went three and a third innings conceding seven hits. Yonta was able to tally five strikeouts while Choleva struck out two in his start.

Vincent Esposito and Tyler Heck began the scoring for Union early as Heck was able to register a RBI single, bringing in Esposito for the game's first run. Heck tacked another run by stealing third base and coming home on an error. Utica was able to get one run back as Nick Perkins roped a single into center field, bringing home Chris Podlucky.

Heck was able to strike again in the third as another RBI single brought in Esposito the regain the two-run cushion. David Peretti added to the Dutchmen lead hitting a liner into left field, scoring Heck from second. Union's offense continued to produce, as Jason Cohen and Chris Carbone were able to put together back-to-back singles to start the fourth. A RBI single by Esposito was enough to chase out Choleva, as it was 5-1 Dutchmen.

However, the Pioneers were able to get Yonta out of the game as Angel Zapata tagged a two-run dinger to left field to get within two. Choleva, who was moved to the designated hitter spot, also registered a RBI on a single, bringing home Perkins to make it 5-4 Union.

Utica's offense surged, as it was able to get to the bullpen of Union, stringing together eight unanswered runs. The Pioneers were highlighted by Thomas Dinnen on a two RBI single to centerfield bringing the score in favor of Utica, 9-5.

In the top of the sixth, the Dutchmen were able to get three of the runs back with RBI hits by CJ Worley, Esposito and Anders Goetz to narrow the deficit to one. However, the Pioneers regained their four-run lead with Zapata, Perkins and Choleva all tallying RBI's.

Despite surrendering the most runs this season, the Dutchmen offense did not fade away as Union strung together a five-run top of the seventh to recapture the lead. Utica did momentarily tie the game on a Chris Podlucky RBI single up the middle. Despite their efforts, RBI hits from Cohen, Eric Egan and Matt Barretto were enough to put the game out of reach.

Utica did rally in the bottom of the ninth as the Pioneers were within a run. However, two-time Liberty League Rookie of the Week Jamie Faber was able to halt the rally and tally the save for Union's 22^nd win of the season.

The Dutchmen will be looking to secure the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Liberty League Tournament, as Union will play a home-and-home twinbill against Vassar. Union will host on Saturday, May 5 at 1:00 p.m. in Central Park. Vassar will host the final two games of the regular season in Poughkeepsie on Sunday, May 6 at 1:00 p.m. as well.