Geneva Squeezes Webster

Photo - Chenoweth courtesy of Ball State Athletics

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, the southpaw scattered nine hits for a complete game shutout as Geneva beat Webster, 4-0. Thursday, the native of Gilbert, Ariz. 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 the pinstripes. 

Pickin' Splinters