Houghton, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly baseball season has come to an end, following their defeat to the Houghton Highlanders by a score of 7-3 in the first round of the Empire 8 playoffs. Quinn Hill led the charge on offense for the Wildcats, driving in two runs on two hits. The Wildcats end their season with a final record of 14-22. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

The opening inning hinted at a tightly contested matchup. The Wildcats had a few on the bases in the first, but failed to score, while Houghton needed just small-ball execution to strike first. After a leadoff single and a wild pitch, a sacrifice groundout gave the Highlanders an early 1–0 lead.

SUNY Poly bounced back in the second. After two walks extended the frame, Quinn Hill came through with a two-run double to left field, putting the Wildcats ahead 2–1. A defensive miscue set up the bottom half for Houghton, as the Highlanders would regain the lead thanks to a couple of RBI knocks. 

The Wildcats nearly pulled even in the third when Luke Landis ripped a leadoff double, but Houghton's defense held firm. From there, the game tightened with both teams trading zeros through the middle innings. 

In the bottom of the sixth, Houghton began to pull away. A couple of run scoring singles would push the Highlanders lead to 6-2. 

SUNY Poly scratched back a run in the eighth when Landis doubled and later scored on a Tristan Allen single, briefly breathing life into a late rally. But Houghton responded once again, adding a seventh run in the bottom half via a sacrifice fly.

The Wildcats put two aboard in the ninth, but the rally fell short as Houghton closed out the win and with it, SUNY Poly's season.

The Wildcats end the 2025 campaign with a record of 14-22.