By Dave Malerk
@moonman9419
Key hits and double plays ensure 2-1 Twins win
WEBSTER — The Geneva Twins (4-2) defeated Rochester’s Athletes in Action (1-2) 2-1 Sunday evening in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Basket Road Stadium.
The Twins displayed early clutch hitting and strong defense to take the win over AIA. Both of Geneva’s runs came with two outs. In the top of the second, Brent Poulin (Cuesta College) hit a two out double that put him into position to be the winning run for the Twins as Carter Bumgardner (Bucknell University) drove him on a single.
In the bottom of the inning AIA started off on a good note as Frank Dreslinski (Rend Lake CC) took one for the team by taking a hit into the abdomen. Kolbe Andrade (St. Petersburg) grounded to the pitcher creating a 1-6-3 double play, AIA’s first double play of the game.
Justin Ratte (Flagler College) earned his first regular season win for the Twins. In his seven innings of work, the righty gave up just one run, one, on three hits. The Miami, FL native struck out three, walking one, while hitting two batters.
The Twins struck first by scoring in the top of the first. With two outs and a man on second, Dillon Hamlin (Seton Hall) mashed a double into left field, allowing Tyler Spry (Onondaga CC) to score.
In the bottom of the fifth inning AIA showed another effort to get back into the game. Josh Davis (Whitworth University) and Zachary Gilcrease (University of South Florida) hit back to back singles followed by a double steal to advance them to third and second respectively. With one out in the inning, Jordan Doherty (Mt. Vernon Naz University) grounded out for a 6-3 putout. Because of base running miscommunication Gilcrease got caught in a rundown that eventually became the third out for AIA resulting in their second double play.
AIA finally got onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out and one man on second, Head Coach Mike Croley put Dreslinki in a hit and run situation. The center fielder failed to make contact, but with the help of a throwing error from the catcher, Andrade was able to round third to cut Geneva’s lead 2-1.
With runners on second and third, AIA hit into their third double play of the game. The batter popped up to the first baseman, who then threw out the base runner at second as he was trying to get back to the base.
Spencer Ansett (Whitworth University) got the start on the mound for AIA in a losing effort. He pitched six and third inning, giving up two runs on 11 hits, striking out five and walking one. Davis led AIA with two hits.
Zachary Lander (Delaware Tech) earned in his first save of the season in the ninth. Bumgardner and Hamlin combined for five of Geneva’s 11 hits while driving in one apiece.
Rochester’s Athletes in Action will play host again facing the Olean Oilers Monday night at 7:00 p.m. at Basket Road Stadium. The Geneva Twins will travel back home Monday Night to McDonough Park to play the Wellsville Nitros with a start time of 7 p.m.
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