FORT PIERCE, Fla. – The Geneva College baseball team took on Marywood University in doubleheader action on Friday, and the two games were mirror images of one another.  Marywood won the first game, 10-0, but Geneva answered back in game two behind a complete-game shutout from freshman Marshall Wheeler (Butler, Pa./Butler), winning 7-0.  Geneva is now 4-2 on the season, while Marywood is 3-7.

Sophomore starting pitcher Jason Bagliore (Brooklyn, N.Y./Millenium) took the mound in game one, and he made it through two innings without any issues.  However, Bagliore lost command in the third inning and Marywood took advantage.  After the first batter was retired, five of the next six batters walked, sandwiched around a Geneva error, and Marywood ended up scoring seven runs in the inning on just two hits.

Freshman Aaron Erimias (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory) came on in relief to help Geneva get out of the third inning, and he pitched well from there.  Unfortunately, the damage was already done.

Geneva's offense could not get going against Marywood's starting pitcher, Joey Castellani.  Castellani threw a complete-game shutout, giving up just two hits while striking out 11 batters.  Marywood added three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning after a Geneva error with two outs, making the final score 10-0.

Bagliore gave up just one hit in 2.1 innings, but six walks were his undoing.  Erimias finished up the game, going 3.2 innings while giving up four hits, one earned run, to go with three strikeouts.

Wheeler took the mound in game two of the day, and he gave Geneva exactly what it needed, dominating the Pacers throughout the game.

The Golden Tornadoes got on the board for the first time on the day in the bottom of the second on an RBI-groundout from sophomore Dillon Bickerton (Salem, Ohio/Salem).  A batter later, senior Dillon Taggart (Livingston Manor, N.Y./Livingston Manor Central) scored on a wild pitch.

Geneva added another run in the third inning on a two-out RBI-double from sophomore Dylan O'Rourke (Hutchinson, Pa./Yough), and then the Golden Tornadoes added two more runs in the fourth, the big hit an RBI-double from sophomore Dylan Van Sky (Denver, Colo./Thomas Jefferson).  That gave Geneva a 5-0 lead heading into the fifth inning, which was more than enough support for Wheeler.

Senior Mark Overmier (Crofton, Md./Mount St. Joseph) added a 2-RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the Golden Tornadoes a 7-0 lead, and Wheeler finished off the complete-game shutout.  Wheeler went seven innings, giving up just two hits and one walk while striking out four.  At the plate, Van Sky was 2-for-2 with a double, a walk, two runs and an RBI.  Bickerton was 2-for-3 with a double, two runs and an RBI, while O'Rourke was 2-for-3 with a double, a run and an RBI.  Overmier also added two hits and two RBIs.

"We received a pitching gem in game two from Marshall," said Head Coach Alan Sumner.  "It was also our first really strong offensive game of the season.  It was nice to bounce back after a rough first game."

Geneva continues its week in Florida tomorrow with a single game against North Park University at 11:00 a.m.


Geneva College is a Christ-centered academic community that provides a comprehensive education to equip students for faithful and fruitful service to God and neighbor. Offering over 80 traditional undergraduate majors and programs, fully online Adult Degree Programs, and high-demand graduate degrees, Geneva's programs are recognized for their high quality. U.S. News & World Report ranks Geneva as a Top Three Best Value Regional University with one of the Top 100 engineering programs in the nation. Adhering to the truth 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.