Clutch Pitching and Timely Hitting Carries Lakers to Doubleheader Sweep
CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. - The Finger Lakes Community College baseball team was vying for a sweep over a Cayuga Community College program that came off a pair of key victories over nationally ranked Hudson Valley Community College Thursday afternoon. Thanks to consistent pitching in a key conference matchup, the Lakers improved their home record to 7-5 and moved to 17-10 (6-2) this season with a 2-1 walk-off win in game one, followed by a 9-6 triumph in game two.
The Lakers earned a clutch walk-off victory in game one, thanks in part to strong pitching and timely hitting. The Lakers opened the scoring in the third inning when sophomore Alex Ahlstrom (Dunkirk, N.Y./Dunkirk) hit a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in freshman Ryan Donovan (North Tonawanda, N.Y./North Tonawanda) for the first run of the game. The Lakers held the advantage until the sixth inning when Cayuga capitalized on an error by the Lakers to bring the score one-all.
The decisive moment of the game came in the bottom of the seventh inning when sophomore Paulie Goodness (Palmyra, N.Y./Palmyra-Macedon) delivered an RBI single to bring home pinch runner Michael Bowler (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) for the game-clinching run. Sophomore Bruno Cergol (Brooklyn, N.Y./Rabun Gap) earned the start and pitched 5.2 innings, allowing one earned run while striking out four. Teammate Matthew Rodriguez (Lackawanna, N.Y./Lackawanna) came in relief to provide 1.1 scoreless innings to set the Lakers up for their late-game rally.
In game two, it was the Lakers' offensive line that helped lead the team to victory. Sophomore Lucas Granger (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads) led the charge, going 2-for-3, including a triple, driving in two runs, and scoring three times himself. Granger would add a stolen base to a productive stat line for game two. Sophomore Paulie Goodness followed suit with another powerful performance, notching three hits, including two RBIs, and swiping two bases.
Teammates Matthew DiSanti (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) and Joey Sanna (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton) each added crucial RBIs, with DiSanti knocking in two runs with a single and Sanna driving in two with a hit as well. On the mound, Trenton Muck (Lyndonville, N.Y./Lyndonville) earned the start and the win. Teammates Charlie Cross (Stockbridge Valley, N.Y./Stockbridge Valley) and Dom Morsch (Churchville, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) came on in relief, with Morsch delivering an impressive 3.2 scoreless innings, striking out four to close the game with the save. Despite the Spartans' late rally, the Lakers closed the door for the victory in game two.
Up next for the Lakers is a road trip to Corning, N.Y. for a conference doubleheader with the Red Barons of Corning Community College on Sunday, April 21st at 12 & 2 PM. The Lakers will look to extend their winning streak on the road with a sweep over their conference foe.
