By SPENCER BATES
HOUGHTON — Despite a stellar performance on the mound and a high level of tenacity that saw the NYCBL West Division leaders pushed to the brink, the Salamanca Lizards had their franchise-record four-game win streak snapped at the hands of the Genesee Rapids.
Heading into its fixture against Genesee, Salamanca sported the longest active win streak in the New York Collegiate Baseball League. With a win apiece over Horseheads, Olean and two over Sherill in a doubleheader sweep, the Lizards began to trend upwards in their fight to escape the bottom of the West Division standings.
Topping the Hitmen and Oilers — third and second in the NYCBL West, respectively — the Lizards entered their Thursday evening matchup hungry to get their opportunity to knock off the West’s leaders.
And it was that confidence that allowed them to endure an early two-run blow from the rapids in the first frame.
It took a couple innings, but the Lizards eventually cut their deficit in half with a run scored by Hunter White, who started his team’s fourth-inning, two-out rally after earning a walk on the back of a 12-pitch at-bat. Singles from Sean Connor (1-for-4) and Lucas Marsh (2-for-3, run, RBI) moved White along the basepaths with the latter being credited with the RBI.
Salamanca went another two innings before scoring their next run. But luckily, a masterful performance from starting pitcher Jase Bourdon kept Genesee from expanding the lead.
Bourdon may have only struck out two batters all night, but he kept the Rapids scoreless for seven innings in a full game outing. Not once throughout the contest was there a reliever warming up in the bullpen for the Lizards as their starter shined.
Salamanca’s pitching rotation has been solid all season and with just over half of the campaign now in the past, it sits with the fifth best ERA (5.35) and an NYCBL-low 90 walks issued. Just behind them in the latter category is Genesee with only 95 walks through 22 games. However, two free bases ended up costing the hosts their lead in the top of the seventh.
Marsh and Gavin Lasko (1-for-3) were both hit by pitches to start the frame. The Lizards then racked up two quick outs before Frank Kula (1-for-4, RBI) saw a knock fall in shallow center field that brought Marsh across home plate for the game-tying run.
With the scores knotted, Salamanca and Genesee traded empty innings and entered the ninth all square. Marsh’s effective night continued in the final frame as he recorded a leadoff single, putting a fifth win in a row in sight for the visitors. However, three consecutive outs following his base-hit opened the door for the Rapids.
And after a leadoff ground-rule double from Troy Chamberlin brought the Genesee bats back to life, it was he who eventually recorded the winning run on a one-out single from Ritz Nonomura.
The Lizards have a chance to jump right back into the win column in their July 4 matchup against the Hornell Steamers away from home. First pitch for that game is currently set for 4 p.m.
AT HOUGHTON
Salamanca 000 100 100 R:2 H:7 E:1
Genesee 200 000 001 R:3 H:9 E:0
Sala: Bourdon (2 SO, 2 BB) and Lasko
Gene: Adkins (4 SO, 1 BB), Stefan (0 SO, 0 BB), Colley (3 SO, 0 BB), Byrne (1 SO, 0 BB), Cooper (1 SO, 0 BB) and Guzman
