Genesee Sweeps Doubleheader Against Finger Lakes

The GCC baseball team improved to 21-6 in regional play after sweeping Finger Lakes CC in a doubleheader on Thursday.

Genesee was in danger of falling via the mercy rule in game one, but came back to dig out of a nine-run hole to win 19-13.

FLCC held a 12-3 lead in the fifth, but the Cougars started to rally in the bottom of the inning. Back-to-back singles to begin the frame paid off after Manuel Tejeda cleared the bases with a three-run home run to cut the Lakers' lead to six. Brandon Henshaw, who hit a two-run home run in the fourth, followed Tejeda with a solo shot and Rodolfo Rodriguez, who also homered in the fourth, went deep as well ending a back-to-back-to-back run for Genesee.

Finger Lakes plated its last run of the game in the top of the sixth before GCC exploded in the home half of the inning with 11 runs, sending 16 batters to the plate.

Cory Regnet led off with a double and scored twice during the inning after being hit by a pitch in his second at bat.

Genesee tied the game at 13 on a bunt single by Harry Rodriguez, who drove in Rodolfo Rodriguez and then advanced to second base on a throwing error. Imanuel Gonzalez doubled and scored twice during the inning and Joseph DeFelice delivered an RBI double in the frame.

The Cougars used five pitchers to piece together the win and Josh Porter earned the decision, tossing two innings while allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits. Jacob Cross shut the door in the seventh, inducing a 6-4-3 double play to erase a one out walk and end the game.

Henshaw's two home runs highlighted a 3-3 day at the plate. The sophomore scored three times and drove in four runs. Rodolfo Rodriguez finished 3-5 with two home runs, four RBI's and three runs scored, Andrew Shapiro went 3-4 with three runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base and Tejeda drew four walks in a 1-1 effort and scored three times. 

Henshaw went 2-3 in game two and drove in three runs in game two to help the Cougars to a 9-8 win in the nightcap.

Genesee scored six times in the third inning to take the lead for good and got RBI hits from Rodolfo Rodriguez and Taijiro Koyama.

DeFelice started on the mound and lasted into the fifth inning, allowing five runs (three earned) and struck out four. Regnet and Cross threw the final three innings and combined to allow three runs (two) earned.

Brandon Stephens racked up two hits and went 2-3 with two RBI's and Shapiro also drove in two runs.

Genesee (26-16) will return to action at home on Saturday in a doubleheader against Niagara County CC.