Grand slam powers Salt Cats 13-9 win over Geneva

By Justin Lada

AUBURN, N.Y. — Save it for Friday the 13^th for the Salt Cats to have something wild like having déjà vu. The Syracuse Jr. Chiefs hung a five spot in the first inning against the Salt Cats Thursday. A nightmare, three-error first inning led to three unearned runs in the first for the Geneva Red Wings. The Salt Cats however would change this story, going on to win 13-9 over the Red Wings at Falcon Park on Friday

Leadoff batter Leon Stimpson would strike out not before going through an eight pitch at bat. A rare error by Salt Cats shortstop, Dan Fiorito (Manhantanville College) with one out in the first put two on. Nick Carlson would follow with an error of his own, not catching a Fiorito throw. The error would score Robbie Enslem and then Carlson (University of Rochester) over threw catcher Kevin Bailey (Alvernia University) on a relay, allowing Chris Ray to score. Jesse Puscheck would single in Rosenblum, giving the Red Wings three un-earned runs to score off of Salt Cats starter, Maso Cotton (Virginia State University).

Cotton would wind up allowing a total of eight runs (five earned). He allowed nine hits, walked three and struck out three.

He took a 12-5 lead into the seventh inning, but came out with one out in the seventh, finishing with the win and 6.1 innings.

He had that seven run cushion into the seventh thanks to a big day by outfielder, Mike Mascari (Syracuse, NY-Oswego State). Down 3-1 in the third inning the Salt Cats roared back with five straight hits, sending 10 batters to the plate, plating five runs.

Carlson would single to open the inning and stole second. Eddie Charles (Oswego State) went through an eight pitch at bat before being hit by a pitch. Then a barrage of five straight RBI singles by Ethan Braddock (St. Lawrence), Fiorito, Jake Cintolo (Suffolk University), Mascari, and Bailey gave the Salt Cats a 6-3 lead.

That would knock Geneva starter Jeff Croteau out of the game. Chis Murphy would come on in relief and pitch two scoreless innings before the Salt Cats would extend their lead off of Zach Langer.

Lander threw one inning allowing six unearned runs thanks to a leadoff error on a ball hit to shortstop by Jimmy Napolitano (Rutgers-Newark). Charles would later single in Napolitano with one out. Cintolo and Fiortio would both work walks bringing Mascari to the plate again.

The upcoming Oswego State Laker this fall belted a Lander fastball over the double-deck wall in right field at Falcon Park for a grand slam, the Salt Cats first this season and a 12-5 lead.

A combination of Mike Rynerson (St. John Fischer), Kyle Cushman (Onondaga CC), and Bo Watson (St. Bonaventure)  would close out the game for the Salt Cats.

Lucas Scocchia was tagged with two un earned runs out of the bullpen for the Red Wings. Scochhia was forced to leave with a 3-2 count to Cintolo with an apparent injury. Zach Augustine hit Cintolo on the 3-2 pitch. Augustine walked a batter and another reached on an error, when those two runs scored charged to Scocchia.

The Salt Cats now force a three way tie for the fourth playoff spot with the Sherrill Silversmiths and Red Wings.

They will get a chance to break that tie tomorrow, as the Salt Cats will host the Syracuse Jr. Chiefs tomorrow at 1pm and 4pm at Falcon Park in two, nine inning double headers.

A pair of Aggies and New Jersey natives, Corey Mingin (Oklahoma State-Panhandle) and Sean Williams (Oklahoma State-Panhandle) will pitch for the Salt Cats at 1pm and 4pm respectively.

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You can reach Justin Lada at Justin.Lada89@gmail.com

Geneva RW            3 0 2   0 0 0   3 1 0 –  9 12  4

SYR Salt Cats        1 0 5   0 0 6   0 1 x – 13 10  4

2B–P.Cotler (1). HR–M.Mascari (2). RBI–R.Enslen (6), J.Puscheck  2 (6),

P.Cotler  3 (6), B.Blumer (6), E.Charles (15), E.Braddock  2 (7), D.Fiorito

(25), J.Cintolo  2 (21), M.Mascari  5 (11), K.Bailey  2 (17). HP–E.Charles

(2), J.Cintolo (6). SF–R.Enslen (1), D.Fiorito (1). SH–C.Ray (0), J.Blair

(0), E.Charles (0), N.Carlson (0). SB–P.Rosenblum (1), E.Charles 2 (9),

J.Napolitano (4), N.Carlson (4). CS–J.Puscheck (2). E–C.Ray 2 (14),

C.Stimpson (4), J.Puscheck (11), E.Charles (4), D.Fiorito (7), N.Carlson 2

(3).

LOB–Geneva RW 8, SYR Salt Cats 6.