HENRIETTA, NY - The Genesee Community College baseball team earned a split with Monroe Community College on Thursday, dropping game one, 4-1 and winning the nightcap, 6-4.
Rodolfo Rodriguez crushed a solo home run in the sixth to give GCC (9-5) some breathing room in a game MCC kept chipping away at before the Cougars held on for the win.
It was a homecoming for a few Rochester-area GCC players, and they put on a show. John Faynor (Lima Christian) went 4-for-6 on the day with an RBI while his brother Jason Faynor pitched a scoreless inning in the first game.
In the win, Frankie Santiago (Franklin) delivered a two-strike, two-out RBI single to give GCC a 4-2 lead in the fifth. GCC shortstop Jordi Agosto (East High) had two hits and two stolen bases.
On the mound in the second game, Jakob MacLeod struck out three and scattered four hits as he worked into the fourth. Anthony Kanaval (Dansville) improved to 2-0 on the season. He entered a 3-2 game with runners on base and got two outs to keep the Cougar lead.
Jonathon Toro then pitched three strong innings of one-hit ball with a strikeout to get the save.
Gabe Diaz went 3-for-4 while Deion Rosalio had two hits and scored two runs for GCC, Elizam De Jesus had two hits and scored and Eliel Martinez had a hit, stole a base and caught eight balls in center field for outs.
In the first game, Ryan Voss (Barker) went 5.1 innings with five strikeouts and one walk. Briann Castillo tripled and scored on a Martinez RBI single. Rodriguez, Santiago, and Agosto also had hits.
"I was pleased with 19 hits in two games, but we need more timely hitting with runners in scoring position," said GCC coach Skip Sherman. "Our pitching staff continues to put us in a position to win every single time we take the field." Genesee has lost four games by a total of six runs.
The Cougars are back in action at MCC on Sunday for a doubleheader at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
For more information, log online to www.geneseeathletics.com and follow on social media by using #cougarPRIDE.
Genesee Community College athletics program endeavors to provide a quality and competitive intercollegiate athletics program consistent with the National Junior Collegiate Athletics Association (NJCAA) philosophy and the overall educational mission of Genesee Community College. Participation in collegiate athletics should be an extension of the total educational experience for the student-athlete. The inherent philosophy emphasizes the athletic setting as a classroom used to teach character, commitment, work ethic, respect for differences, and the importance of sacrifice, teamwork, and cooperation.
For further information and pictures go to Genesee's Athletic webpage, which is updated regularly with game results, team rosters, photographs and information about Genesee's overall athletic program. http://www.geneseeathletics.com and use #cougarPRIDE when posting on social media.
