HOUGHTON, N.Y. — In a manner of 24 hours, Geneva’s Twins did an about face. One day after managing one run on just six hits in a 5-1 loss to the Genesee Rapids at the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex, the Twins returned to the site of the 2014 New York Collegiate Baseball League All Star Game and clinched the post-season.
Fernando Garcia (Murray State College) led a 15-hit attack, and Eddie Emes (Penn St. Greater Allegheny) took a no-hitter into the ninth as the Twins downed Genesee, 8-1, Monday night.
Garcia drilled his second home run of the season, a two-run job in the third, as Geneva coasted to its second playoff bid in three years. The Twins outfielder connected on a 2-1 offering from Rapids starter Zach Uher (Baruch) and plated Zach Goldstein (So. New Hampshire) for an early 3-0 lead. He singled and scored in the ninth and finished with four hits in five trips to the plate.
Eddie Emes (Penn St. Greater Allegheny) allowed one run on one hit and three walks over eight innings. The right-hander retired the first seven he faced, struck out four and improved to 4-0 on the season. He did not allow a hit until a Chris Welch (Mississippi College) leadoff double in the ninth.
Kevin Berge (St. John Fisher) came out of the bullpen and finished off the game.
Geneva drew first blood in the second. Connor Simonetti (Kent St.) knocked a one-out single and scored one out later when Mitchell Lake (Mt. Union) reached on an error.
Geneva added three insurance runs in the sixth. Lake plated Simonetti with a one-out base hit. Goldstein capped the inning with a single to score Lake and David Oliger (Wabash).
Uher, the NYCBL’s strike out leader, took the loss. He allowed six runs (four earned) on 12 hits and one walk. He struck out five and has 56 punch outs on the season. He fell to 4-5.
Goldstein went 3-5 with two RBI and a run scored.
Calvin Woolhiser (St. John Fisher) added three hits in five trips for Geneva.
Oliger collected two hits.
Welch scored Genesee’s only run when Tommy Lentine (Ave Maria) reached on an error.
Garcia is six for his last eleven.
Geneva (25-16) holds a one game lead for second place over the Rochester Ridgemen (25-18) in the NYCBL’s Western Division. The Twins host the Niagara Power (20-20) for a 5 p.m. start, Tuesday.
Genesee (20-23) trails Niagara for the fourth and final playoff spot in the west. The Rapids travel to Olean to take on the Oilers (13-25). First pitch at Bradner Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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