Alfred State’s Trent Green scores twice to lift Hornell to victory
From the Hornell Steamers, pictured is Green by JC’s Photography
HORNELL, N.Y. — The Hornell Steamers broke open a one-run game with a five-run outburst over the final two innings to defeat the Genesee Rapids 6-2 on Wednesday night at Maple City Park.
After trailing 2-1 through six innings, Hornell rallied behind timely hitting and a dominant bullpen effort to improve to 11-7 on the season.
The Steamers struck first in the second inning. Emmett Heath (Pomona Pitzer) singled and Trent Green (Alfred State) entered as a pinch runner before Callum McAtee (Transylvania) was hit by a pitch and Luke Manders (Kalamazoo) drew a walk to load the bases. Wyatt Argentieri (Bethany Lutheran) lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Green to tag and score for a 1-0 Hornell lead.
Genesee answered in the fourth, tying the game on an unearned run after Nate Simon stole third and scored on a throwing error. The Rapids took their first lead an inning later when PJ Ortiz scored on a sacrifice fly by Mikey DeLuca to make it 2-1.
Hornell’s offense came alive in the seventh. McAtee worked a leadoff walk and advanced to second on Manders’ sacrifice bunt before Argentieri lined an RBI single to center to even the score. Two batters later, Markus Brehm (Finger Lakes CC/St. Bonaventure) delivered a clutch RBI single to left, with an errant throw allowing him to advance to third as Argentieri scored the go-ahead run.
The Steamers added breathing room in the eighth. Green doubled into the left-field corner before Manders drove him home with an RBI single. Argentieri followed with another base hit, setting the stage for Taylor Joseph (North Park), who ripped a two-run double into the left-center gap to cap the scoring and give Hornell a 6-2 advantage.
Argentieri led the offense, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs, including the game-tying hit in the seventh and an earlier sacrifice fly. Joseph collected a pinch-hit two-run double in the eighth, while Manders finished with a hit, an RBI, a walk, and scored a run. Green scored twice after entering the game as a pinch runner and later remaining in left field.
Hornell’s pitching staff was equally impressive.
Alex Spezzano (Hobart) kept the Steamers in the game through four innings, allowing just one earned run while striking out four. Zachary Emmer (Kalamazoo) bridged the middle innings before Peter Pipikios (North Park) turned in four dominant innings of relief to earn the victory. Pipikios allowed just one hit, struck out five, and retired 12 of the 13 batters he faced as he shut the door on the Rapids.
The Steamers finished with 10 hits while holding Genesee to six. Hornell pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts, and the bullpen did not allow a run over the final five innings.
Hornell travels to Genesee on Friday for a 7 p.m. contest vs. the Rapids.
