Genesee Splits Matchup at Finger Lakes

CANANDAIGUA, NY - The Genesee Community College baseball team had an exciting split with division rival Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC) on Tuesday, as GCC won game one, 8-5 and fell in extra innings in game two, 5-4. Genesee improves to 17-9 on the season, and 5-1 in Region III Division III play.

In the first game, Genesee fell behind, 4-2, but a bizarre 3-RBI bunt by Christian Torres gave the Cougars the lead. On the play, one run scored on a squeeze bunt, a second run scored on the throw, then Gabe Diaz took off for home and scored.

"The second baseman covered the bag and when he looked down then flipped the ball to the pitcher, I had a big enough lead around third that I took the chance and went home," said Diaz, who had a hit and RBI.

Parker Cole (Bolivar-Richburg) got the win on the mound tossing five innings and striking out nine. Anthony Kanaval (Dansville) earned his fifth hold of the season, striking out two without allowing a runner in the sixth then Jakob MacLeod had the save, striking out three in the seventh. At the plate for GCC, Elizam De Jesus had two hits including a double and a run, Christian Torres had a two-RBI single, Jordi Agosto (East) had two hits, Bryant Fontanez had two hits, two runs, and a stolen base, Deion Rosalio had aRBI double, Rodolfo Rodriguez had a double, Frankie Santiago (Franklin) and Eliel Matinez singled.

In the second game, GCC lost in the bottom of the eighth on a fielders choice, as pinch runner Lukas Haefner from FLCC scored from third after a ground out for the second out of the inning. Jonothan Toro started and struck out two in four innings, Kanaval came in with the bases loaded and one out and got a strikeout and a double play to end the fifth. Jayson Faynor threw the final three innings. At the plate in the second game for the Cougars, John Faynor (Lima Christian) went 4-for-4 with a double and scored two runs while De Jesus blasted a 2-RBI triple, singled and stole a base. Rodriguez and Rosalio (RBI) each had had two hits and Diaz singled.

"Gabe's base running in the first game was a spark for us," said Genesee head coach Skip Sherman. "He did everything we asked from him today and Bryant Fontanez at third base made the tough plays, the routine plays, and the difficult throws to keep us in it. That was the type of veteran leadership we needed."

The Cougars and the Lakers will battle again on Thursday, April 11 in Batavia as Finger Lakes comes to town for a doubleheader with games at 2 pm and 4 pm. For more information, log online to www.geneseeathletics.com and use #cougarPRIDE while posting on social media.