By Alicia Daddario
SYRACUSE, NY — It was a cloudy evening at Rockwell Stadium but the rain held off just in time for the Syracuse Salt Cats to host the Geneva Twins for the first time in franchise history. Mike Ryerson (St. John Fisher) pitched a gem for Syracuse, earning his second win of the season while shutting out Geneva 4-0 . The Salt Cats’ win over the Twins gives them a two-game win streak and puts them at nine wins and six losses overall.
Ryerson was dialed in on the mound for Syracuse as he pitched 6 and 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball. He struck out four batters and was able to limit the Twins to five hits. Connor Nolan (Le Moyne) was also phenomenal in relief, not allowing a run in two and a third innings.
The Salt Cats jumped out to an early lead. Carlos Guzman (Molloy) led off the bottom of the first with a double to center field. Bud Morton (Southern) advanced Guzman to third with a sacrifice bunt. Next batter up, Cristian Fiorito (Concordia) knocked in the first run of the game on a ground out to first base. Fiorito added to his RBI total of 14, which leads the Salt Cats.
The Salt Cats went three scoreless innings before tacking on two more runs in the bottom of the fifth. To lead things off, third baseman Anthony Massicci (Canisius) reached first on a walk by Twins’ pitcher David Anderson (Muhlenberg). Massicci advanced to second on an Anderson throwing error, as he was trying to catch Massicci off the bag. Ben Sawyer (Alvernia) grounded out to second, which moved the runner to third base for Tyler Kirwan (Massachussetts-Boston). Kirwan capitalized on the opportunity as he knocked in Massicci with a ground ball to second, his fourth RBI of the season.
Syracuse was not quite finished. Next up, right fielder Mike Mascari (SUNY Oswego) grounded to first, but the ball was bobbled and mishandled for an error, which allowed Mascari to make his way to second. A man in scoring position for Guzman, who rips it to left field for his second double of the game and an RBI. Salt Cats lead 3-0 after five innings.
Now in the bottom of the seventh where the Salt Cats would score their final run. Sawyer singled to left field for his first hit of the game. Kirwan laid down a sac bunt to advance Sawyer to second. Mascari followed with an infield single up the middle. Guzman, who went 3-4, continued his great game with an RBI single to right. Sawyer score the fourth and final run for the Salt Cats.
The Syracuse Salt Cats will head to Falcon Park, home of the Auburn Doubledays, for another match up against the Geneva Twins Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the Cats will look to extend their win streak to three games.
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