The Hornell Steamers battled back to tie the game in the fifth inning, but the Genesee Rapids answered with a four-run rally in the bottom half and went on to claim an 8-3 victory Sunday afternoon at Kerr-Pegula Field.

 

The loss dropped the Steamers to 14-13-1 on the season.

 

Genesee took advantage of Hornell miscues early to build a 2-0 lead despite collecting just one hit through the first four innings. Mikey DeLuca reached after being hit by a pitch in the opening inning, advanced to third on a pickoff error, and scored on a wild pitch. An inning later, Logan Hoyt scored on an error after stealing second to make it 2-0.

 

Hornell finally broke through in the fifth. Michael Duncan (Eastern Mennonite) before Markus Brehm (St. Bonaventure) then laced an RBI double to left field to cut the deficit in half, and John Greenwood (North Park) followed with a sharp single to center that plated Brehm, knotting the game at 2-2.

 

The momentum was short-lived. The Rapids capitalized on four walks and a Hornell error in the bottom of the fifth to score four runs while recording just one hit. PJ Ortiz and Logan Hoyt each drew bases-loaded walks, Kieran Crossley reached on an error that brought home another run, and Christopher Wollum added an RBI groundout to give Genesee a 6-2 advantage.

 

Genesee added insurance runs in the sixth and eighth innings on RBI doubles by Gage Wheaton, who finished with two doubles and two RBIs.

 

Hornell continued to battle throughout the afternoon and threatened several times. The Steamers loaded the bases in the eighth but were unable to score, then scratched across a run in the ninth when Beno Ballard (Westminster) lined an RBI single to left, scoring Nolan Winthrop (Pomona Pitzer) .

 

Winthrop led the Hornell offense with a 3-for-4 performance, adding two stolen bases and a run scored. Brehm finished 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, a walk, and a stolen base.

 

Despite the loss, starter Micah Marvin ISUNY Niagara) turned in an impressive outing, striking out 11 .over four innings while allowing just two hits. Hornell pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts, but seven walks and three defensive errors proved costly.

 

Hornell heads to Genesee for the final time during the regular season on Monday night for a 7 p.m. contest with the Rapids.