HOUGHTON, NY - The Alfred University baseball team began Empire 8 conference competition with a 21-4 loss to Houghton University on Friday afternoon. 

Keith Mintschenko (West Grove, PA/Avon Grove) got the initial start on the mound for Alfred University, striking out a pair of runners across 2.1 innings. The Highlanders got on the scoreboard in the second inning, but Will Timpano (Orillia, ON, Canada/ Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School) crossed home plate on a passed ball to cut the deficit for AU. In the next at-bat, Jack Grider (Stafford, VA/Brooke Point) registered an RBI single to bring home Angelo DeFilippis (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic). Timpano and Tyler Mullholand (Lancaster, PA/Manheim Township) each were credited with an RBI in the sixth inning, but Houghton relied on multiple runs throughout the course of the game to hold on for the win. 

Due to weather, Alfred University will next conclude their series at Houghton on Sunday for a doubleheader beginning at 2pm.