MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Geneva College baseball team saw its ninth-inning rally fall short on Wednesday afternoon against Hilbert, dropping a 10-9 contest to the Hawks.  Geneva's record is now 2-2 on the season.
 
Sophomore Jacob McFarland got the start on the mound for the Golden Tornadoes, and Hilbert pushed across a run on an error in the top of the first.  Geneva got that run right back when junior Zack Sackett tripled with one out, and he scored on a sacrifice fly from senior David Toruno.
 
Geneva took a lead in the bottom of the second when freshman Noah Gonzales walked, stole second and eventually scored on a wild pitch.
 
Hilbert took advantage of a leadoff walk and hit batter to score twice in the top of the third, grabbing a 3-2 advantage.  The Hawks added a run in the fourth off freshman reliever Dylan Rowe.
 
Sackett and Toruno combined for another run in the bottom of the fifth.  Sackett singled with one out and came around to score on a double by Toruno.  Geneva pulled even an inning later when freshman Aiden Garcia doubled and came home on an RBI-single from junior Eric Gonzalez.
 
Hilbert retook the lead in the top of the eighth off freshman reliever Tyler Lemansky, stringing together three straight extra base hits to score twice.
 
Geneva answered right back, though, getting its first two baserunners on.  One scored on a balk, while a second scored on a single by Gonzalez, pulling the Golden Tornadoes even again, 6-6.
 
The bullpen couldn't find a shutdown inning, though, in the ninth.  Hilbert scored four times in the top of the inning, putting Geneva in a big hole, one the Golden Tornadoes almost dug out from.
 
Sackett got the ninth started with a single, and Toruno was then hit by a pitch.  After an out, freshman Josh Hull drove one into the right centerfield gap for a 2-run double.  After a second out was record, junior Zach Lemansky drove home Hull to pull within one.  Another hit batter moved Lemansky to second, putting the winning runs on base, but a groundout ended the game, 10-9.
 
Sackett continued his hot start to the season with another big game, finishing with four hits to lead the offensive attack again.
 
Geneva is off tomorrow before playing Valley Forge on Friday at 9:00 a.m.


Through purposeful learning in a community reflecting the full spectrum of God's kingdom, a Geneva College experience inspires students to discover a faith-life calling in service to God and neighbor. Offering 195+ traditional undergraduate majors and programs, fully online Adult Degree Programs and high-demand graduate degrees, Geneva's programs are recognized for their high quality and affordability. Geneva was founded and is governed by the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) and is a founding member of both the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and the International Association for Christian Education (IACE).