By RAEGAN RYAN
HOUGHTON, N.Y. – The Genesee Rapids got an early jump on the Wellsville Nitros and hung on for a 6-5 win in New York Collegiate Baseball League action Sunday afternoon at the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex.
Genesee came out aggressively at the plate in the first two innings of play. Mark McKenna (Canisius) was the catalyst for the Rapids offense and recorded the first hit of the game on a single to left field. McKenna made his way around on an error to make the score 1-0 heading into the second.
Jordan Wilkerson (Texas Tech), the starting pitcher for the Rapids, recorded two strikeouts and zero hits in the second while retiring the side to keep the momentum in favor of the Rapids offense.
In the second attempt at the plate, Jacob Burlingame (Canisius) made his way to first after a walk and Will Lucas (Charleston) was right behind to move Burlingame over to third on a single to centerfield. With two men on, McKenna singled to left to plate Burlingame and move Lucas to third making the score 3-0.
Daniel Lockwood (St. Edwards) sent a shot to center field to bring Lucas home and a single from Judah Wollenburg (Rio Grande) brought McKenna home to round out the inning with a 4-0 lead.
The Nitros didn’t find an answer until the sixth innings where they chalked up three runs to make the score 4-3.
“I was hoping we wouldn’t stop after four runs in two innings but we took a nap for a little bit,” Genesee head coach JT Thomas. “They got their three runs in the sixth but we kind of gave it to them. We knew we could still come out with a win because two of those three runs had much to do with our defensive play. I was worried about the one run game when our bats went quiet. We just needed to get someone on base to get something started.”
Wellsville started with a single from Tyler Culpepper (Roane State CC) and landed a second base runner after Max Franzone (Dominican Col) was walked. Harry Montero Jr. (Bloomfield Col) advanced to first on an error, and Culpepper put the Nitros on the board for a 4-1 spread.
Jacob Sims (Roane State CC) then sent a shot to center field to score Fanzone making the score 4-2. Michael McNicholl (Eastern New Mexico U) doubled to center to score Montero Jr. to narrow the gap to 4-3. A shallow hit to left field and a strong throw from Rapids left fielder, Lockwood, prevented Sims from scoring the fourth run for Wellsville.
In the top of the eighth the Nitros made things interested and tied the game at 4-4.
Just as Coach Thomas predicted, Hunter Sykes Mississippi Coll) responded in the eighth with a single to right field. With a runner on, McKenna delivered an RBI triple to take back the lead at 5-4. Another Rapids single from Lockwood plated McKenna to widen the gap to 6-4.
“The reason why Mark has been so successful is because of his consistency,” Thomas added. “In sports, that’s the name of the game. He’s gone out there and performed every single day and when you do that, no one doubts you. Mark was up with one out and a guy on first, I didn’t know he would hit it all the way to the fence but I was confident he would get on base. Mark’s been great. At first it was more defensive than offensive but he’s come full circle.”
The Nitros brought in one run in the top of the ninth to inch closer making the score 6-5. But Lockwood ended the Nitros chances of a rally after catching two fly balls for outs two and three to finish the game.
“This is three in a row for us,” Noted Thomas. “We’ve put together some good games. Whether we make the playoffs or not, I want our guys to enjoy this last week we have together.”
Victor Cavalieri (Houghton) picked up the win allowing two runs on five hits.
McKenna recorded a 4-for-5 night with two RBI. Other multiple hit performances came from Lockwood, 2-for-4 with two RBI, and Philip Wells (Baldwin Wallace), 2-for-4.
Genesee (15-25) remains alive in the Western Division playoff picture. The Rapids trail Hornell (20-21) and Wellsville (20-20) with six games remaining. The Rapids are on the road tomorrow to take on Hornell for a 7:00 PM start.
Wellsville gets a day off before traveling to Rochester on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. first pitch.
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