Grzeskowiak Leads Tribunes in DH Split with Finger Lakes

CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. -- Joe Grzeskowiak (Henrietta, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta) finished 3-for-4 including an RBI-single in the fifth inning as Monroe Community College Baseball erased an early deficit and went on to beat host Finger Lakes CC, 8-6 in Game 1 of an NJCAA doubleheader on Tuesday.

Grzeskowiak plated Ryan Stewart (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn High) with a two-out hit to cap a three-run inning and give the Tribunes a lead they did not surrender at 6-4.

Trailing 4-3, Connor Kiefer (Buffalo, N.Y./City Honors) worked a leadoff walk to start the decisive frame and moved to second on a Lucas Brown (Toronto, ON/Humberside Collegiate Institute) sacrifice bunt.

Avery Bowens (Rochester, N.Y./Eastridge) followed with a base hit to knot the game at four. Bowens moved to second on the play and one out later came home on Stewart's base hit.

Patrick Sherron (Henrietta, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta) started and picked up the win with his longest outing of the season. The right-hander struck out two, walked three and allowed six runs on nine hits over 6.1 innings of work. After allowing pairs of runs in the second and third innings, Sherron faced the minimum in the fourth and fifth before leaving a one-out double at third in the sixth.

Ian McNabb (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) came out of the bullpen with one out, one on, two runs in and retired the side to register a save when he induced a double play from the first batter he faced.

Stewart went 2-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored in the win. Brown singled, walked and had an RBI. CJ Phelps (Rochester, N.Y./McQuaid Jesuit) was 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Patrick May (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) singled and drove in two runs. Kiefer doubled and scored twice.

 Dylan Wanat (Buffalo, N.Y./Williamsville North) doubled and drove in Brown in the first inning of Game 2 as the Tribunes (15-24) went on to take a 3-0 lead. But it wasn't enough. FLCC (37-12) rallied and scored four runs in the sixth inning for a 4-3 decision in Game 2.

Brown was 2-for-4 in the nightcap. May walked twice and scored. Kiefer singled, walked and drove in a run. Bowens singled and scored. Connor Sackett (Rochester, N.Y./Fairport) was 1-for-3 in the loss.

Lucas Connors (Brampton, ON/Heart Lake) started and allowed two runs (one earned) on two walks and a hit over 5.2 innings of work. The right-hander struck out five. Connors retired the first 12 batters he faced before surrendering a leadoff single in the fifth.

The same two teams will meet on Thursday at Tribune Field. A 1 p.m. first pitch is scheduled for Game 1 of a doubleheader.

Photo attached: Joe Grzeskowiak (Henrietta, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta) finished 3-for-4 including an RBI-single in the fifth inning as Monroe Community College Baseball erased an early deficit and went on to beat host Finger Lakes CC, 8-6 in Game 1 of an NJCAA doubleheader on Tuesday.