May 21, 2008 - Geneva College
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May 21, 2008

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May 21, 2008

CONTACT: Van Zanic

Sports Information Director

(724) 847-6886

vgzanic@geneva.edu

DAY ONE SEES GENEVA GAIN SPLIT AT NCCAA TOURNAMENT

Struthers, OH - Geneva′s baseball team will live to see at least another day as the Golden Tornadoes split a pair of games in day one of the NCCAA national tournament. Serving as the host school for the 2008 event, Geneva opened its post-season run with a 9-5 victory over Colorado Christian in a game that gave the Golden Tornadoes the right to face #2 seed Mt. Vernon Nazarene. The former AMC foe proved to be too much for Geneva in a 12-1 loss to the Cougars.

In game one, Geneva got off to a great start as freshman Jon Jurinko launched a two-run homer in the first inning to put the Golden Tornadoes on top. Geneva extended the lead with RBI base hits from Andy Hiskey and Tyler Kepiro.

Geneva extended the lead to 8-2 when Joel Gatti, Geneva′s leading hitter coming into the tournament, smashed a bases loaded double to give the Golden Tornadoes a six run lead. That advantage would be more than enough for starter Derek Sumner. Sumner threw a complete game and moved to 7-3 on the year with the victory. Geneva′s single season strikeout leader fanned six batters to improve upon his record of 84 strikeouts this spring.

In game two, Geneva watched Mt. Vernon post six runs in the first two innings of the winner′s bracket contest and never looked back as the #2 seeded Cougars cruised to a 12-1 victory.

Geneva moves into the loser′s bracket and will face another former AMC foe in Cedarville University at 11:00 am on Thursday. Mt. Vernon will face Chowan in a winner′s bracket game on Thursday afternoon. Malone and Indiana Wesleyan will face off in the other winner′s bracket game on Thursday. Both Colorado Christian and Bethel College were eliminated on the tournament′s first day.

May 21, 2008