The GCC softball team took one of two from visiting Niagara County CC on Tuesday afternoon, coming from behind to win game one 11-6 and dropping game two 9-7.
Genesee used an eight run sixth inning in game one to come back and defeat the Thunderwolves and got a winning effort in relief from pitcher Mackenzie Weber.
After surrendering a run in the top of the first, GCC scored three of its own during its first at bat. Sydney Brenton got the offense going with a leadoff double and scored on a triple by Weber, who touched the plate when Abigail Noeth doubled the very next at bat. Noeth then scored when Joelle Kaminski put one in play that was mishandled by the NCCC defense, giving Genesee an early 3-1 lead.
GCC starter Karli Phillips gave up a run in the third that got Niagara to within one, and gave back the lead in the fifth, her final inning, when the Thunderwolves scored four times on three hits, including a three-run home run, and two walks.
Trailing 6-3 in the bottom of the sixth, the Cougars sent 12 batters to the plate and scored eight runs on eight hits. Brenton, Weber, Noeth, Shiori Ubukata, Karli Phillips and Marissa Draper each delivered RBI singles in the frame.
The lead was more than enough for Weber, who pitched around a two out walk in the top of the seventh to retire the Thunderwolves without incident. Weber pitched a clean sixth and seventh inning and struck out three to earn the win.
Brenton finished game one 2-4 at the plate and scored two runs while driving in one. Weber was 2-4 with two RBI's and two runs scored, Noeth tallied three hits in a 3-4 effort and scored twice while driving in two, and Kaminski and Amanda Stratton each collected two hits and scored a run.
Niagara saw all nine batters hit in the first inning of game two, and scored five runs to take a lead it would not give up.
GCC chipped away and trailed 7-4 after a run in the second and a three-run third, but gave up two more NCCC runs in the fourth and managed just three runs on seven hits the rest of the way.
The Cougars had the tying run in scoring position when they loaded the bases in the sixth, but could not cash in and went down in order in the seventh.
Ubukata picked up three hits and scored two runs in game two, Weber went 3-4 with a double and a run scored, Brenton was 2-5 with a run scored and a stolen base and Kaminski went 3-4 with a double, a run scored and an RBI.
Genesee pushes its overall record to 9-8 and the Cougars will return to action at home on Thursday in a doubleheader against Monroe CC.