By RAEGAN RYAN
HOUGHTON, N.Y. – The Genesee Rapids made it to four wins in a row after defeating the Rochester Ridgemen 10-5 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action Friday night.
The Ridgemen were the first to get things started in the top of the fourth inning. They recorded five consecutive singles that brought in three runs, making the score 3-0.
Rochester’s attack offensively in the fourth was the spark that the Rapids needed to get their offensive engine started. Genesee responded with singles first from Mark McKenna (Canisius) and Dan Crozier (Cazenovia) giving the Rapids two base runners right away. Peter Bocchino (Bentley) then advanced McKenna and Crozier, to third and second respectively, on a pop up to center. Philip Wells (Baldwin-Wallace) stepped to the plate and struck a single to right field to bring in McKenna for run number one. Then, Allen Murphy (St. John Fisher) one-upped the previous singles by blasting a triple to center field to score Wells, resulting in a 3-2 spread heading to the fifth.
After the engine was kick-started, the Rapids didn’t look back. They went on to score in three of the remaining five innings of the game.
In the bottom of the fifth, Genesee scored an impressive three runs on just two recorded hits. Adam Reece (Salem International) led the charge with a single to centerfield and Jon Nola (Walsh) moved him over to second on a fielder’s choice. The bases then were loaded as Judah Wollenburg (Rio Grande) battled for a walk. McKenna saw the chance to bring in some runs and came through. He pulled a shot down the first base line that was enough to plate Reece and Nola. Crozier laid down a ground ball and executed a hit and run for Wollenburg to cross home plate, making the score 5-3.
The Ridgemen tied the game in the sixth inning. Bram Wood (Olney Central) was the first to get on base after a single to center. Teammate Brooks Pitaniello (Harding) advanced to first on a fielder’s choice knocking Wood off the bases. Joseph Done (Skagit Valley) then hit a bases-clearing double for Pitaniello to score. Hayden Houts (Northern State U) then stepped up and landed an RBI single to make the score even at 5-5.
The Rapids weren’t able to break the tie until the bottom of the seventh inning. It was again McKenna who touched home plate. McKenna was walked but the stroll to first wasn’t the pace you saw from him as he stole both second and third on two separate occasions. This aggressive, and impressively quick speed, took full advantage of an error from the catcher for the sake of a run for Genesee. The side retired and the Rapids were in the lead, 6-5, with only two innings of play left.
Breton LaRose (Sacred Heart) took things over on the hill to close out the game for the Rapids. LaRose sat down two batters in the eighth and one in the ninth to earn the save for the night.
In the bottom of the eighth, Genesee poured it on to seal the deal. After walking the first two batters of the inning, the Ridgemen made a pitching change to finish the rest of the game. The Rapids weren’t even phased by the adjustment from their opponent. They recorded two hits and translated that into four runs, making the eventual final score 10-5.
Christian Jorden (Jefferson CC) picks up the win from the mound for the Rapids after pitching five full innings with two strikeouts.
The Rapids will look to continue their streak Saturday against NYCBL Eastern Division opponent, the Rome Generals. First pitch is slated for 7:00 p.m.
Rochester returns to action Saturday at 5:00 p.m. against the Wellsville Nitros.
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