Hot Bats For Geneva on Historic Senior Day - Geneva College
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Hot Bats For Geneva on Historic Senior Day

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sumnerBeaver Falls, PA – The Geneva College baseball team returned to the field again on Saturday, April 23 to take on the visiting Summit University Defenders in the second doubleheader of the weekend. Geneva would remain strong throughout the day as they won both games with scores of 7-3 and 25-12 respectively. The double wins would increase their record to 12-21 overall while remaining 3-16 in the President’s Athletic Conference (PAC).

On a special note for the Geneva College baseball team, head coach Alan Sumner celebrated his 600th win of his 28 year coaching career with the team’s second game win.

It was senior day for the Golden Tornadoes as they took the time before the game to celebrate their careers. The seniors were J.C. Akerman (Lewis Center, OH/Worthington Christian), Zach Akerman  (Lewis Center, OH/Worthington Christian), Drew Nichols (New Wilmington, PA/Wilmington), Tanner Propst (Chambersburg, PA/Cumberland Valley Christian), Joe Galante (Emsworth, PA/Avonworth), Aaron Whitman (Greencastle, PA/Shalom Christian Academy), Andy Santana (San Pedro de Marcoris, DR/Desert Christian), and Ian McDonald (Grantham, PA/West Shore Christian Academy).

The 7-3 game one win were a result of 12 hits. Joey Luciana (Oakmont, PA/St. Joseph) continued to be a strong force at the plate. He singled in the first inning, tripled in the third inning, and doubled in the sixth inning.

Ackerman, Luciana, and Tyler Pagaduan (Voorhess, NJ/Eastern Regional) combined for seven hits and four RBIs in the game.

McDonald celebrated senior day in a special way, allowing just one hit. He allowed no earned runs, walked no one, and struck out two during his four innings of work; Summit University jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first but the lead didn’t last thanks to a first inning rally that saw two runs cross the plate on an RBI single by Ackerman. Geneva would score a run in both the third and fourth innings to pull the lead away from the Defenders. The Defenders would make a late offensive push, but it would not be enough to take the game from the determined Golden Tornadoes.

Seventeen runs in the first three innings helped Geneva blow out Summit University in their 25-12 second game victory. The teams combined for 29 hits, including six extra base hits in the course of the game. The GT’s easily handled Summit University pitching as nine hitters combined for 16 hits, 17 RBIs, and 14 runs scored. A total of twelve different batters would connect for a hit over the course of the game.

Jericho Hilling (Willamsburg, PA/Hollidaysburg) had four RBIs in his three at bats but he would not be alone in his success. Luciana racked up two RBIs on three hits for Geneva with Witman adding three more before the game was over.

Josh Glover (Springfield, VA/West Springfield) got the win despite allowing nine runs over four innings. He struck out one, walked two, and surrendered seven hits.

The GT’s will hope to keep their offensive streak alive as they travel to Grove City College on April 25 at 4 p.m. to play a single nine inning game.

Geneva College invites students to step forward and leap ahead with an academically excellent, Christ-centered and affordable education. Offering nearly 40 undergraduate majors, Adult Degree Programs with fully online and campus-based options, and high-demand advanced graduate degrees, Geneva's programs are recognized for their high quality. U.S. News & World Report ranks Geneva as a Top 10 Best Value with one of the Top 100 engineering programs in the nation. Adhering to the inerrancy of Scripture, a Geneva education is grounded in God’s word as well as in a core curriculum designed to prepare students vocationally to think, write and communicate well in today’s world. 

Apr 23, 2016