Lakers Notch Sweep of Hornets

BINGHAMTON, NY.  – The Finger Lakes baseball team swept a doubleheader on Saturday at Broome CC. They took the first game 8-2 and the nightcap 7-5. The Lakers are now 11-24 on the season. They hold a 7-8 record in the region and are 6-4 in MSAC play.

The Hornets struck first in game one and posted an early 1-0 lead. The Lakers would answer and tie the game in the top of the second, as Troy Loparco would lead the inning off with a single. Loparco would then move to second thanks to a Branden Rhodes bunt. He would later score on a Corey Galletta RBI single. Loparco's run would tie the game at 1-1.

The Lakers would then tack on two more runs in the third. Joey Simmons would lead off the inning with a triple to deep centerfield. After hitting what was one of two triples in the contest, Simmons would then find home plate, as Kyle Consolie would drive him in via a single. After reaching base, Consolie would steal second before scoring on a Nate Eastman RBI single.

Starting pitcher Derick Fera held the Hornets in check all day. In the complete game victory, he allowed just three hits and one earned run, while striking out six. The Lakers would add an insurance run in the fourth and four runs in the seventh, which was highlighted by multiple extra base hits.

Simmons led off the seventh with his second triple. After hitting a three-bagger to right centerfield, Simmons would then be brought in by Consolie. Eastman and Dylan Catlin would then hit back-to-back doubles to widen the margin. Eastman's double would score two. After getting on base, Eastman would then score via a Galletta sacrifice fly. His run would end the scoring at 8-2.

Joining Simmons with multi-hit games were Consolie (2-4, 2 RBIs), Eastman (3-4, 3 RBIs), Loparco (2-4) and Galletta (2-4, 2 RBIs). In total, the Lakers belted out 13 hits, including five extra base hits.

Finger Lakes got out to an early lead in game two with four hits in the first inning. However, its four hits would lead to just one run. The Hornets would answer quickly with two unearned runs off starter Kevin Close in the bottom of the first. Their runs would put them ahead of the Lakes 2-1. That score would hold until the third when Catlin would start the inning off with a double. He would move to third and score on an error when Eastman hit a fielder's choice to short. Eastman would later score on a two out single by Galletta.

The Lakers would widen the margin with four runs in the fourth. Aaron Freida and Simmons led the inning off with back-to-back singles. The hit was the only one of the day for Freida, but he would reach base all four times that he came to the plate thanks to his three walks.

After discovering the base paths, Freida would later score and Simmons would be brought home on a Catlin single (his third hit of the game). Eastman would then hit a double. After registering the extra base hit, Eastman, as well as Catlin, would both be driven in via a single by Loparco. Their runs would give Finger Lakes a 7-2 lead. Broome would fight back to bring the tying run to the plate, however, that was as far as the hosts would get as the game would end in a 7-5 victory for the Lakers.

Catlin and Loparco led the Lakers at the plate as they both went 3-4 with their bats. Simmons continued his hot day by going 3-5.

Close, in five innings worth of work, notched the win on the mound. In his outing, he struck out five while holding the Hornets to no earned runs. Danny Baker and Loparco each struck out a batter during their one inning of relief work.

The Lakers return home on Sunday to finish their season series with the Hornets. First pitch from Finger Lakes CC is scheduled for 1pm.