Geneva Squeezes Webster

Casey Rana (U Texas – Permian Basin) tossed a complete game one-hitter, and Geneva executed a suicide squeeze in the top of the ninth to defeat Webster 4-2, in New York Collegiate Baseball League action, Thursday night.

Gordy Lahann (U Texas – Permian Basin) dropped a one-out bunt, and pinch runner, Mike Blanchard (Austin Peay), raced home with the eventual game-winning run. Eddie Bleiler (Holy Cross) worked a one-out walk off Webster reliever, Bryant Guilmette (U Mass-Lowell) before giving way to Blanchard.  Chris Dudics (Toledo) came home with an insurance when Brendan McCrea (Holy Cross) hit a sacrifice fly.

Geneva plated a run each in the sixth and seventh frames. Bleiler led the seventh with a single and scored on Lahann’s triple into left center. McCrea started the sixth with a walk off Webster starter, Brian Pullyblank (So. Illinois) and came home on a base hit by Jack Wortley (U Texas – Permian Basin).

Webster’s runs came in the fifth when Ryan Chenoweth (Ball State) hit a blast over the fence in right field scoring Nate Koontz (Ball State). Chenoweth’s home run represented the only hit of the night for the pinstripes. Koontz reached on a throwing error in the infield.

For the second time in as many opportunities, Rana tamed the Yankee lineup. On June 24 ^th , the southpaw scattered nine hits for a complete game shutout as Geneva beat Webster, 4-0. Thursday, the native of Gilbert, Arizona allowed just five base runners while striking out six. Using his breaking ball early in the count Rana kept Webster batters off-balance all night.

With the loss, Webster’s record stands at 12-5.

Webster travels to Niagara, Friday, for a game with the Power. First pitch is set for 7 pm. Matt Jimenez (Mercyhurst) gets the start for Webster.

Pickin’ Splinters