By Andrew Grella
GENEVA, N.Y. — The Geneva Twins used the long ball to edge the Wellsville Nitros 3-2 in the first game of a scheduled doubleheader of New York Collegiate Baseball League action at McDonough Park, Monday.
Jordan Wheaton (Alfred State Col) gave the Nitros their only lead of the game with after a sacrifice fly to score Josh Beams (Indiana Southeast U) in the top of the first. Beams’ single in the first was the only blemish on Greg Coman’s (Harvard) line. The southpaw went five, gave up one run and struck out five to raise his strike out total to 41 on the season, which is fourth in the NYCBL.
The Twins answered in the bottom of the second. Brett Connors (Siena) went yard with a 1-0 offering from Wellsville starter Avery Ford (Fulton-Montgomery CC).
Both pitchers settled down until the fifth. Connors reached on a lead-off walk. Ford then hit Justin Green (Wabash Col) with a pitch. David Oliger (Wabash Col) reached on an error, and Connors hustled home from second.
Wellsville tied the game in the top of the sixth. Wheaton put runners on second and third when he doubled with Connor Belago (Mercyhurst Col North East) on first base. Gerard Defilippo (Felician Col) followed with an RBI ground out off Jonah van Bemmelen (Arcadia).
But Mike Annone (Wilmington) gave the Twins lead for good in the bottom of the frame. Annone took a 1-0 pitch deep over the right field fence. .
After retiring the side in order in the seventh, van Bemmelen earned his first win in the NYCBL
Geneva scored four runs in the first inning of the nightcap. Mike Konyesni (Mt Union) walked to open the frame. Zach Goldstein (Southern New Hampshire U) ripped a pitch to the deepest part of the park for a triple. After playing hero in Game one, Annone continued his hot hitting as he lined an RBI single to left for a 2-0 lead. With runners on second and third, Jason Ibrahim (Arkansas Pine Bluff) hit a sacrifice fly to left field. Connors drove in a run with a single to left and just like that, the Twins had a 4-0 lead after one.
But, the Nitros cut the lead in half against the pitcher with the lowest ERA in the NYCBL, David Anderson (Muhlenberg Col). They scored two on an infield hit and a walk with the bases loaded.
Rain and a tornado warning stole the show from there. The game was suspended in the bottom of the second with the Twins leading 4-2. Geneva has runners on first and third and two outs when the game picks up on July 19th.
The Twins (21-12) have the Tuesday off and will return to action Wednesday when they travel to Syracuse to take on the Salt Cats (18-16). A 7 p.m. first pitch is scheduled at Onondaga Community College.
The Nitros (9-24) are in action in a double header Olean against the Oilers (10-22) . The first game will start at 5 pm.
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