Hubs baseball team clinches series win over Geneseo

Johnson combo fuels Rochelle's 6-2 victory on Tuesday

Russell Hodges
Posted 4/23/18

Junior Cody Johnson nearly tossed a complete game during Rochelle’s varsity baseball game at Geneseo on Tuesday. And behind two RBIs including one home run by junior teammate Brandon Johnson, the Hubs defeated the Maple Leafs by a score of 6-2 to improve to 6-4 overall and 4-1 in the Northern Illinois Big 12 West.

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Hubs baseball team clinches series win over Geneseo

Johnson combo fuels Rochelle's 6-2 victory on Tuesday

Posted

GENESEO — Junior Cody Johnson nearly tossed a complete game during Rochelle’s varsity baseball game at Geneseo on Tuesday. And behind two RBIs including one home run by junior teammate Brandon Johnson, the Hubs defeated the Maple Leafs by a score of 6-2 to improve to 6-4 overall and 4-1 in the Northern Illinois Big 12 West.

Geneseo took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning after two singles, and the Maple Leafs added one run in the top of the third inning before Rochelle scored in the bottom of the third inning to make it a 2-1 game. Senior Lawson Simmons doubled to begin the frame, and Simmons advanced on a single by junior Zack Bernardin and scored on an RBI groundout by Johnson.

Johnson’s solo shot in the top of the fifth inning tied the game at 2-2, and the Hubs took the lead soon after when junior Hayden Jones and sophomore Gavin Ansteth hit back-to-back doubles, with Ansteth driving in Jones to put Rochelle up 3-2.

Johnson singled to ignite Rochelle’s offense in the top of the seventh inning, and Jones hit a one-out double before both Johnson and Jones scored on a single by Ansteth to give the Hubs a 5-2 lead. Ansteth advanced to third on a throwing error by Geneseo before scoring on an RBI double by senior Blake Albers.

Ansteth led Rochelle with three RBIs in the game, and Cody Johnson struck out six Geneseo batters in 6 2/3 innings to record the victory on the mound. Johnson added two singles in the game, and senior Noah Mershon went 2-for-4 with one single and one double. The Hubs will look to sweep the Maple Leafs in their series finale at home on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.