Ryan LaGrou pitches for Geneseo
LIVONIA — The Livonia Bulldogs scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead and produce the final score of 5-4 over the Geneseo Blue Devils on Friday.
Geneseo junior pitcher/first baseman Ryan LeGrou started the game for Geneseo with a double in the first inning and scored on
a RBI single by senior DH Grainger Flint, who went 3-4 on the day.
LeGrou then took the mound in the bottom of the inning but let up two runs (one earned), and Livonia went ahead 2-1.
The third inning brought a rally for Geneseo in which LeGrou (2-3, two steals) was again the catalyst. He led off with a walk and then stole second before junior catcher Cory Valentine brought him home with a RBI double. Flint then doubled to bring two men on, and a few wild pitches that got by Livonia sophomore catcher Morgan Brown allowed them both to score and bring Geneseo ahead 4-2.
LeGrou found himself in a jam in the fourth when he let up an infield single to load the bases with two out. He was able to get out unscathed with help from his catcher when Valentine caught a pitch and fired it to first to get a tag out on Livonia second baseman Mike English before he could make it back to the bag.
Geneseo junior Blake Phelps replaced LeGrou in the fifth inning after Geneseo had already given up a run and now had men on first and second. An RBI single, walk to load the bases, and a wild pitch led to the three Livonia runs that would prove to be the difference.
“Quite honestly, it was the errors that killed us,” Geneseo manager Nick Drollette said. “You take out the unearned runs and we win this game. They’re a great ballclub and I’m not making excuses – they definitely earned that victory. But if we make the plays we need to make, we win that game.”
Geneseo (0-1) will be away in Myrtle Beach next week before coming back home to take on York on Monday, April 21st.