Americans Set Franchise Record in 21-9 Victory in Geneva

GENEVA, NY - The Niagara Falls Americans traveled to Geneva to face off with the Red Wings, winning by a score of 21-9. The eight-inning mercy victory is the second time this season the Americans have scored 20 or more runs against the Red Wings, and the first time in franchise history that the team scored 21 runs in a game. The win moves the Americans to 21-12, while Geneva falls to 7-22-1.

While many Americans had spectacular nights in the eye-popping offensive performance, Gavyn Boyle, Greydon Miller, and Loagan Stickler shined brightest. Boyle batted 2-of-3, hitting a triple and a homerun. Across his seven plate appearances, Boyle was recorded out just one time, scoring five runs and tallying another five RBIs. Miller batted 2-of-4, notching another five RBIs. Stickler was the only American with more than two hits, batting 3-of-5 with one RBI and two runs scored.

Brady Toney started the game for Niagara Falls, pitching 5.0 innings and earning the win. Toney allowed eight runs, seven earned, striking out five of his 28 batters faced. Carter Hall entered to finish the final 3.0 innings and earning his second save of the season. Hall allowed one run and struck out four of his 15 batters faced.

Despite the loss, the Red Wings' offense still produced, led by the performances of Chase Fogg, Michael Sardou, and Christian Bermudez. Fogg had just one hit across three at bats, a three-RBI double. Sardou was the only Red Wing with multiple hits, batting 2-of-3 with two doubles, one RBI, and walking once. Bermudez batted 1-of-3, working one walk, stealing two bases, and scoring two runs.

For Geneva, four different pitchers took over on the mound throughout the contest. Stephen Pearson started the game, allowing six runs and retiring just two batters before Brock Raterman entered in relief. Raterman pitched the next 2.2 innings, allowing seven runs, six earned. Braden Freeman pitched the next 4.0 innings, allowing six runs, two earned, and striking out one of his 24 batters faced. Freeman's strikeout was the only strikeout of the day for Geneva. Malachi Morgan threw the final 0.2, allowing two runs on three hits across five batters.

Niagara Falls started the game hot, scoring six runs in the top of the 1st, the highest-scoring half-inning of the game. Each of the first three Americans batters reached base to start the game, Grant Moore on a hit by pitch, Allen Ramos on a single, and Gavyn Boyle on a walk. Greydon Miller opened the scoring for the visitors, hitting a fly ball to right field that scored Moore to complete the sacrifice fly. After another flyout to right put the second out on the board, Paul Dulanto singled to left field to advance each baserunner one base, and scoring Ramos. The next two batters both walked, Ian Huang to load the bases, followed by Evan Kohr. Kohr's walk pushed Boyle over home plate. Loagan Stickler continued the scoring run by singling to left field, scoring Dulanto. On his second plate appearance of the inning, Moore worked an RBI walk to score Huang. The Americans were issued another free base and run on a hit by pitch on Ramos, scoring Kohr. After the hit by pitch, Geneva turned to Stephen Pearson, who induced a fly out on his first batter faced.

The Americans added one run onto their lead in the next inning. Miller singled to leadoff the inning before Dulanto walked two batters later. Huang hit into a fielder's choice, getting Dulanto out at 2nd base and putting runners on the corners with two outs. During the next at bat, a passed ball allowed Miller to score the only run in the top of the 2nd. 

Geneva responded by scoring a run of their own in the bottom of the 2nd. After a leadoff fly out, Jaden Madrid worked a walk, putting himself in position to score from 1st base on a double by Michael Sardou. The Americans retired the next two batters to limit the damage to one run.

The Americans began the top of the 3rd similarly to the 1st, with each of the top three batters in the order reaching base, this time on a Moore single, Ramos walk, and hit by pitch on Boyle. With bases loaded and no outs, Miller hit his second sacrifice fly of the game, scoring Moore. Back-to-back air outs by the next two batters ended the inning.

The Red Wings worked to get back into the game in the bottom of the 3rd, scoring four runs, their biggest inning of the game. Zane Barron led off the inning with a hit by pitch before back-to-back singles by Christian Bermudez and Zach Banks loaded the bases. Chase Fogg took advantage of the opportunity, hitting a double down the left field line that allowed all three base runners to score. Two batters later, an error allowed Aiken Santana to reach base and advance to second, as well as allowing Burcroff to score.

Niagara Falls responded to the Red Wings' efforts by scoring five more runs in the top of the 4th. A fly out led off the inning before the next three batters all reached to load the bases, Kohr and Moore on walks, and Stickler on a single. With bases loaded, Kohr crossed home on a wild pitch before Ramos walked to re-load the bases. The next two Americans batters were both given first base, driving in a run on each. Boyle walked to score Stickler before Moore came home on a hit by pitch on Miller. The Red Wings turned to Brock Raterman, who walked Shane Pray, his first batter faced, scoring Ramos. The next batter, Dulanto, reached 1st on a fielder's choice, getting Pray out at 2nd, but scoring Boyle. 

In the bottom of the 4th, Geneva again chipped one run away from the Americans' lead. After a leadoff groundout, Jack Turner reached 1st on a hit by pitch, before advancing to 2nd on a single by Barron, and then stealing 3rd base. With one out and runners on the corners, Bermudez hit a ground ball to the shortstop. The defenders attempted to turn a double play, getting the out at 2nd base, but not beating the runner to 1st, allowing Bermudez to reach on a fielder's choice, as well as allowing Turner to come home and score.

The top of the 5th was the only inning in which the Americans did not score, opening the door for Geneva to further reduce the lead. Dylan Briggs led off the bottom of the 5th with a double down the right field line. After back-to-back fly outs, Briggs advanced to 3rd on a wild pitch that also was ball four to walk Sardou. During the next at bat, another wild pitch allowed Briggs to score.

The 6th inning saw Boyle hit a home run to right field on the first pitch of the inning. Only one of the next four batters reached base, putting Geneva back up to bat with only one run added to the lead. The Red Wings led off the bottom of the inning with a single by Turner. Niagara Falls entered Carter Hall into the game after the hit. Hall induced a flyout on his first batter faced before walking Bermudez, his second batter. Both runners stole a base before a sacrifice fly by Banks scored Turner and advanced Bermudez to 3rd. Back-to-back hit by pitches loaded the bases before another free 90 scored Bermudez. After the RBI walk, a groundout ended the inning.

Niagara Falls began the top of the 7th with a leadoff flyout before Stickler and Moore reached base on a single, followed by a hit by pitch. Ramos hit a groundball to the shortstop, which the Red Wings threw to 2nd base, getting Moore out, but the throw to 1st was errant, allowing Stickler to score and letting Ramos advance to 2nd base. A hit by pitch put Boyle on 1st before a throwing error on a pick-off attempt allowed Ramos to advance, putting runners on the corners with two outs. Miller kept momentum alive with an infield single that scored Ramos. During the next at bat, a passed ball allowed both baserunners to advance two bases, scoring Boyle. Despite loading the bases again, the Americans did not add any more runs in the inning. 

The Americans came out in the 8th looking to establish a mercy-forcing lead. Kohr led off the inning by reaching 1st, and additionally advancing to 2nd base on a throwing error by the shortstop. Soon after, Moore was walked, leading to a pitching change with Braden Freeman entering the game. Ramo welcomed Freeman with a single to left field to load the bases. Boyle continued his phenomenal performance by hitting a bases-clearing triple to left field. The next batter, Miller, grounded out to the third baseman, but the groundout was productive, scoring Boyle.

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Catch the next Americans home game tomorrow, July 12th, when we host the Elmira Pioneers in a doubleheader, with games scheduled to start at 4:00 and 6:00pm! It is Mascot Mania Night, so come to the stadium, meet Apollo and some of his best friends, and cheer on your Niagara Falls Americans! To purchase single-game or season tickets, call 716-215-6161 or visit niagarafallsamericans.com for more information. Season tickets start as low as $99! If you or someone you know is interested in sponsoring the Americans, or organizing a group outing to an Americans game, please contact General Manager Marc Witt at mwitt.canusa@gmail.com.