By Cameron Boon
WEBSTER, N.Y. — Both pitchers shined at Basket Road, but only one could come out a winner. Jacob Chipka (Hope) shined for eight innings, shutting out the Rapids, and Shane Soria (Glendale CC) drove in the only run of the game as the Rochester Ridgemen defeated the Genesee Rapids in New York Collegiate Baseball League action, Thursday night.
“I put it on the guys to find a way to win tonight because this was big,” Rochester manager Brady James said.
The victory put Rochester three games ahead of the Rapids for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Western Division.
Chipka scattered five Genesee hits, while striking out two batters and only issuing one walk to earn his fifth win of the season.
“I threw consistently and let my defense do the job tonight,” Chipka said. “They played out of their minds tonight.”
Zachary Uher (Baruch) pitched very well in the losing effort, only allowing the one run, while giving up six hits and striking out nine Rochester batters.
“He was phenomenal tonight,” Genesee manager Tyler Rost said.
The Rapids put runners on first and second in both the second and the third inning, but each inning ended with a double play.
The lone run was scored in the bottom of the fifth. Will Bass started the process with a one-out single to center. After stealing second, Chase Burrow (Mary Hardin-Baylor) grounded out to first to move Bass to third. That was one of four bases that Bass would steal on the night.
“That’s part of his game,” James said.
Bass then scored when Soria looped a single up over second and scored what proved to be the winning run.
Chipka would not allow a runner to reach third in the final three innings.
“It makes me focus more,” Chipka said about pitching with a one-run lead.
Uher prevented insurance runs in the eighth, as the Ridgemen put runners on second and third with two outs, but got Trent Sullivan (MidAmerica Nazarene) to ground out to end the inning.
“Towards the end, I had to mix (fastball and curveball) because they are very good hitters,” Uher said.
Jackson Sigman (Glendale CC) came on in the ninth for the save and, after hitting Tony Schultz (Northwestern) to lead off the inning, retired the final three batters he would face for his first save of the season.
Michael Kerr (Houghton) got a hit in the second inning, extending his hitting streak to five, while Dalton Combs (Huntington) put together a 2-for-2 effort.
Bass also contributed a pair of hits in a 2-for-3 game for Rochester.
The Ridgemen are now 15-12 and are off for the 4th of July tomorrow. The Rapids are also off tomorrow, and are currently sitting at 13-16.
Rochester travels to Wellsville (5-20), Saturday. A 5 p.m. first pitch is scheduled.
Genesee goes to Olean (8-15) for a 7 p.m. start.
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