By Stephen Borgna
CORTLAND, N.Y. — The Geneva Red Wings stayed hot as they beat the Cortland Crush, 3-2 in New York Collegiate Baseball Action, at Beaudry Park, Wednesday evening.
The Red Wings utilized a quartet of pitchers to get the job done.
Brian Zielinski (Alvernia) started on the hill for Geneva, and left in the fourth with a strikeout and two walks. Jason Meger (North Park) then took over, heaving five strikeouts while allowing only two hits. The right-hander picked up his second win of the season.
Jeremy Hutchinson (Neumann) tossed a scoreless eighth.
Alex Summers (Neumann) finished off in the ninth with two punch outs. The right-hander retired all three batters he faced for his fifth save of the season.
“The pitching staff, the guys who threw tonight beared down when they needed to,” Geneva coach George Schaefer said. “They threw strikes, filled up the zone, induced contact, and they really helped us out tonight.”
Geneva’s pitching quartet tossed for a combined ten strikeouts on the evening.
“It’s a testament to what they’re doing day-in and day-out in the weight room,” Schaefer said. “Before games, getting their work in, they’re filling up the zone. That’s all we can ask.”
Geneva had a total of ten hits on the night. They scored in the second with an RBI double by Chris Burns (Alvernia), in the third with an RBI single by Andrew Utterback (Alabama A&M), and in the fifth with another RBI single by Utterback.
At the bottom of four down 2-0, Greg Jasek (Clarkson) stole home to tack on a run for Cortland. Adam Smith (Cortland) followed up a few batters later with an RBI single, evening the score. It would be the last run Cortland scored during the game. The Crush were unable to put up the leading run in the fourth with bases loaded.
“Every game we’ve played the last seven games have been a one or two-run game,” Cortland Coach Yale Hughes said. “We just need to get the key hits, with runners on base. We need to get over the hump.”
Geneva maintains first place in the East with one game ahead after their win over Cortland. The Red Wings have won seven straight and eight of nine.
“As a team we talk about taking it day-by-day,” Schaefer said. “We don’t look towards the future, we don’t look towards August. It’s day-by-day. We expect to be in the playoffs by the end of the season. But at the same time we worry about tonight, tonight and tomorrow, tomorrow.”
Zacchary Lander (Brockport) hurled three strikeouts for the Crush, allowing only one hit and one walk.
Ronnie Mannella (Utica) threw for three strikeouts and one walk for the Crush.
Greg Jasek (Clarkson) had two singles on the night for the Crush: one in the fourth to left, and another in the eighth to center.
Utterback had two RBI singles on the night: one in the third to pad Geneva’s lead to 2-0, and another in the fifth to put Geneva up 3-2.
The Crush (11-20) will be taking on the Jr. Chiefs (10-22) tonight at Beaudry Park at 7pm.
The Red Wings (19-11) will be up against the Jr. Chiefs this Friday, July 11, at McDonough Park at 7pm.
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