Lakers Win Two over Pioneers, Extend Win Streak to Six Games
CANANDAIGUA – Finger Lakes took both games from Alfred State College on Tuesday to open its four game series with the Pioneers. The Lakers won the first game 5-3 and the second game 5-0. Finger Lakes is now 15-24 on the season and 11-8 in Region III's Western Division.
The Pioneers got out to an early lead in the first inning thanks to a three-run homerun. The Lakers would answer back in their half of the inning with two runs to cut the margin to 3-2. With two outs, Dylan Catlin would walk and steal second base. He would move to third on an error. Troy Loparco would walk to load the bases. After Loparco reached base, Nicholas Petrantoni would stand at the plate. He would hit a line drive back at the mound that tipped off the pitchers glove behind the mound. He would beat it out at first and Nate Eastman would score all the way from second.
The Lakers would tie the game in the bottom of the second. Hunter Hey and Kenny Urbanik would lead the inning off with back-to-back singles. Hey would be thrown out at home on a potential sacrifice fly, but with two outs, the Lakers scored thanks to their running ability. Kyle Consolie would steal second and on the play, Urbanik would steal home to tie the score at 3-3.
After the rocky first inning, starter Dakota Stackhouse settled in to earn his team-best fourth win on the year. He allowed just one hit after that first inning and struck out nine. The Lakers would pull ahead in the fourth inning. Consolie would have his second hit of the game as he beat out a potential double play ball, which put runners on first and second. Eastman would single home Consolie. Catlin, who reached on a fielder's choice, would score a batter later on a passed ball. His run was the fifth and final one of the game for the Lakers.
Game two was marked by great pitching for the Lakers. Sophomore Stephen Lewis took the ball and minimized any potential threat by Alfred State. He allowed just three hits over his five plus innings of work. Finger Lakes had base runners on during each inning of the game, and broke through for a run in the second. Loparco led off the inning with a single and promptly stole second base. Corey Galletta would then single through the right side to post the 1-0 lead.
The Lakers would then add another run in the fourth inning. With one out, Branden Rhodes walked, and then went to third on a hit and run single by Galletta. After Galletta registered his single, freshman shortstop Hey would ground into a potential double play, but beat it out at first base and Rhodes scored on the play.
Alfred State would threaten in the sixth inning. With two outs, the Pioneers drew a pair of walks that ended the game for Lewis. Kevin Close came in from the bullpen and gave up a chopping single to third to load the bases. After a long at bat, he was able to put a fastball past the Pioneer batter to end the inning and the threat.
The Lakers would take that momentum to the plate with them in the bottom half. With two outs and a runner on first, Aaron Freida would double down the left field line to score Hey from first. Joey Simmons would single in Freida and Consolie would triple to deep right field, scoring Simmons to make the lead 5-0. Close would throw a 1, 2, 3 inning in the seventh to close out the victory for the Lakers.
Galletta (2-2, 1 BB, 1 RBI), Consolie (1-1, 2 BB, 1 RBI), and Catlin (1-1, 2 BB) each had perfect days at the plate for Finger Lakes. Consolie also had a pair of stolen bases. The win was Lewis' second on the season. Close had a pair of strikeouts in earning his first collegiate save.
The Lakers now travel to Alfred for the second half of the series with the Pioneers on Thursday. First pitch at Alfred State is scheduled for 2pm.