By CODY LOVE
SYRACUSE, N.Y — All it took from the Red Wings’ hitters was two big innings. Their starting pitchers took it from there.
A five-run second inning in the first game and a six-run fourth inning in the second combined with complete game performances from Vince Apicella (Carson-Newman) and Brandon Humbertson (Salisbury) propelled the Geneva Red Wings to 5-2 and 6-1 victories over the Syracuse Salt Cats in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Onondaga Community College on Saturday.
After Geneva loaded the bases with no outs in the second inning, a Mason Schoettlin (Lawson State CC) ground ball seemed to set up a critical double play that could have gotten Syracuse out of the inning. But the exchange was mishandled allowing Harry Roberson (Amherst) to score.
Seeing the dropped ball, Matt Eastman (St. Bonaventure) made a break for home and scored as well.
After another run crossed the plate and two outs were recorded, an infield pop fly by Tommy O’Hara (Tufts) seemed it would end the inning, but two more runs scored when the ball was dropped.
Starter Thomas Burke (Concordia) would leave after an inning and two thirds with only three of the five runs being earned.
His counterpart, Apicella, threw a gem on the mound, staying in for all nine innings, and only allowing two runs, neither earned because of a two out error, scored in the sixth, while striking out 13.
Apicella is known for getting a lot of strikeouts, and brings the same mindset from his college team.
“When we get 0-2 at school, we really try to bury the hitter,” Apicella said. “You want to finish him.”
The Salt Cats registered six hits in the first game, only one less than Geneva. But Apicella shut them down nearly every time they threatened.
“(I’ve) just got to shut them down,” Apicella said. “I’m doing the best job I can to keep our team in the game.”
The Salt Cats did manage to score two runs in the sixth off a two-RBI double by Lucas Tevlin (Binghamton).
Tevlin was the only hitter who seemed to have Apicella figured out, going 3-for-4 with two doubles.
For the Red Wings, Eastman and Zach Wingate (Birmingham Southern) led the hitting in the first game with two hits apiece.
The second game was looking like it was setting up to be a pitchers duel, with only a first inning run by the Salt Cats on the board until the fourth inning.
Syracuse starter Sean Pisik (Ursinus) had worked his way out of trouble in the third and looked to be cruising through the fourth after quickly retiring Geneva’s third and fourth hitters, Wingate and O’Hara.
However, pinch hitter Nick Meo (Ithaca) and Eastman both walked, bringing Lucas Zilli (Michigan State) to the plate.
He hit an RBI single to tie the game at one.
After another single by Roberson, Schoettlin hit a bases-clearing double that scored three runs.
After a two-out error by Hunter, another two runs crossed the plate bringing an end to Pisik’s day with the score 6-1.
Humbertson stayed on the mound for all seven innings for Geneva, striking out six and rebounding from the early deficit.
“Giving up that run is huge in the first inning,” Humbertson said. “But I know my team can swing the bat and I have confidence in my defense. (I’ve) just got to throw strikes, and they’ll get themselves out.”
Zilli went 3-for-4, while Roberson and Schoettlin each went 2-for-3 to lead the hitting for Geneva.
Tevlin again led the way for Syracuse at the plate going 2-for-3, while Jose “Manny” Colon (Rutgers-Camden) got the lone RBI on a double.
The Salt Cats bullpen had to take over sooner than expected in both games, but fewer arms were tired out thanks to the extended work of two relief pitchers.
Cameron Jack (St. Martin’s College) went four and one-third innings while Jahmoy Williams (Genesee CC) went three and one third. Neither allowed a run.
Red Wings manager Ryan Kassab praised the work of his two aces in the sweep.
“It started with the guys on the bump,” Kassab said. “It gives your hitters a little extra confidence on a mound that they’re not going to give up a lot of runs, if any.”
Including the suspended game that was concluded before yesterday’s game in Geneva, the Red Wings took three of five decisions from the Salt Cats in a series that started on Thursday.
Although the other three games were decided by closer scores, Kassab saw a pattern throughout the series.
“We had two big innings (today),” Kassab said. “That’s how this entire series came down. A couple of big innings changed the course of the games.”
The Salt Cats (10-6) will try to rebound at home tomorrow night against the Oneonta Outlaws (6-7). The Red Wings (8-5), open a four-game series on the road against the Sherrill Silversmiths (3-10) at Noyes Park. Three of the four games will be played in Sherrill.
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