Power rally to defeat Twins

By  Anthony Moscaret, Director of Baseball Operations & Public Relations/Geneva Twins and Red Wings

GENEVA, N.Y. – The Niagara Power (3-1) used a late rally to defeat the Geneva Twins, 5-1, in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at McDonough Park, Tuesday night.

Niagara sent 37 men to the plate and produced 11 hits while using a solid pitching performance, as they handed the Twins their second loss of the season.

The Twins (0-2) jumped out to an early lead in the first inning as they went up 1-0.   Michael Roman (St. John Fisher College) lead off the game with a walk while teammate Ryan Johns (Hanover College) single to give the Twins runners on first and second. Third baseman Greg Davis (Univ. of Louisiana-Lafayette) grounded out as he moved both runners into scoring position.  Zach Fowler (Alabama Southern CC) singled and drove in his first RBI of the season as Roman scored from third. Johns advanced to third on the play with two outs.

After being shut for five innings, the Power rallied to score three runs in the top of the sixth.  Perry Rigby doubled to open the inning off while teammate Bobby Twitty grounded out to the second baseman to move him to third.  Buddy McCoy singled and picked up his first RBI of the season as Rigby scored from third. Scott Gillespie singled which allowed McCoy to move to third on the play. Gillespie later would steal second to put two runners in scoring position for the Power. Matt Brooks singled while driving in both runners to give Niagara a 3-1 lead.  Brooks advanced to second on the play.

McCoy picked up his second hit of the game as he singled to open the top of the eighth. He finished the night 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a RBI. Teammate Gillespie picked up his second single of the night, which allowed McCoy to move to third on the play. He then stole his second base of the evening as he took tallied his second stolen base during the contest. Brooks would walk to the load the bases with no outs for the Power.  A wild pitch would allow McCoy to score from third and move Gillespie and Brooks up one base each.  Gillespie would get caught stealing home for the first out of the inning while teammate Brooks stole second on the double steal. Catcher Tyler Simmons reached first on an error by the Twins’ shortstop Johns. Brooks scored from third to put Niagara up 5-1 with two outs.

The Twins threatened in the bottom of the eighth and ninth innings, but came up short as they left runners on second and third in both innings.

Zach Uher picked up his first win on the season for the Power while striking out six, allowing one earned run, walking two and scattering five hits.

Alex Leighton (Flagler College) was tagged for the loss in his first NYCBL outing. He struck out three while giving up three earned runs and allowing six hits.

The Twins head to Niagara, New York tomorrow to take on the Power at 5 p.m