Photo by JC’s Photography
The Hornell Steamers swept a doubleheader vs. the Genesee Rapids to close out the June portion of their season. Hornell took the opener 6-5 before hitting four homers in a 11-4 victory in the nightcap.
Colton Burd (Indiana U of PA) started a big day at the plate in the 1st inning of the opener with a RBI single.
Hornell built their lead to 5-0 with four runs in the bottom of the 3rd. Bryson Rigsby (Webster) scored following a single by Peyton Johnson (Indiana U of PA) and an error by the Rapids. A couple batters later, Johnson scored on a wild pitch before Brody Burdett (Alfred State) followed with a two-RBI single to right.
Genesee got right back in the game with a big 4th and 5th inning. Grant Hartley hit a three-run homer in the 4th and Josh Cosme tied the game up with a two-run double in the 5th.
Hornell bounced right back in the bottom of the 5th and retook the lead. Burdett battled and sent a sac fly to left to score Burd to give the Steamers back the lead. The Steamers looked to add to the lead but were stymied by the Rapids bullpen.
Quinn Weber (Webster) allowed just two hits in the final 2.1 innings to seal the victory and earn the win. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out two.
Burd was 2 for 2 with a RBI while Torrey Roper (Indiana U of PA) was 2 for 3. Burdett finished 1 for 2 with 3 RBI.
In the nightcap, the Steamers got the bats going. They finished the game six extra base hits, including four homers.
In the 1st, Burd and Roper drew bases loaded walks to give Hornell a lead they never would give up. Paxton Hughes (Trevecca Nazarene) connected on a RBI double in the 2nd to score Connor Kiefer (Monroe CC) who had doubled earlier in the inning.
Burd led off the 3rd with a solo homer to right field and four batters later Jack Loftus (Western New England) sent one on to Adsit St. for a three-run shot to make it 7-0.
Chris Mattoon (Alfred State) made the lead stick as he threw five no-hit innings until the Rapids got something going in the 6th. They collected their first hits and scored a run.
Hornell answered right back in the bottom of the 6th with another four-run inning. Burd connected on another homer to right, this time a two-run homer, to start the scoring. Roper followed with a solo homer of his own to right center. Loftus capped the Steamers scoring with a RBI single to left.
Genesee collected three runs in the 7th but didn’t get any closer.
Burd finished 2 for 3 with 4 RBI. He now has a team best three homers on the season. Rigsby was 2 for 3, Hughes was 2 for 4 with a RBI, Loftus was 2 for 4 with 4 RBI, and Roper’s homer was his second of the season.
Mattoon went the distance allowing eight hits and two earned runs. He walked three and struck out 11 batters.
Hornell is now 12-12 on the year. They wrap up their week-long homestand on Friday with a 7 p.m. contest vs. the Mansfield Destroyers.
