Utica Erupts Early, Cruises Past Eastside 11-4
July 10th, 2026
UTICA, Mich. – The Utica Unicorns (12-12) put on an offensive clinic Friday night at UWM Field, erupting for nine runs in the first two innings on their way to an 11-4 victory over the Eastside Diamond Hoppers (7-16). Utica collected 14 hits and received 5.2 scoreless innings from its bullpen to improve its position in the second half race.
The Unicorns jumped on Eastside starter Landen Ray immediately, plating three runs in the opening inning before breaking the game open with a six-run second. Alex Harrell and Cecil Lofton each scored twice during the early surge, while Joey Winters delivered the biggest blow of the night with three RBIs. By the end of the second inning, Utica had built a commanding 9-2 lead.
Utica’s offense stayed productive throughout the evening. Harrell finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI while swiping three bases. Lofton reached base five times, going 2-for-2 with a double, three walks, three runs scored and an RBI. Winters added two hits and drove in three runs, while Ryan Enos and Braxton Meguiar each contributed two-hit performances. The Unicorns totaled four doubles and nine RBIs in the win.
Eastside answered with two runs in the first and two more in the third to trim the deficit to 9-4, but Utica’s pitching staff slammed the door from there. After starter Nick Cosentino allowed four runs over the first 2.1 innings, Griffin Graham entered in relief and earned the victory with 3.2 shutout innings, allowing just two hits while striking out five. Calvin Shepherd and Trevor Sharp combined to finish the final two innings, holding the Hoppers scoreless the rest of the way.
The Unicorns added insurance runs in the sixth and eighth innings before closing out the 11-4 victory. Eastside stranded 12 runners on base, while Utica’s defense turned a key double play to help preserve the comfortable win