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A six-run sixth inning propelled the Saint Vincent baseball team to its fourth straight win, a 9-5 decision over Geneva College at Bearcat Ballfield.

The victory improves the Bearcats' record to 8-8 on the year, and clinches a sweep in the team's three-game season set with the Golden Tornadoes.  Geneva falls to 10-6 with the loss.

Saint Vincent got off to a good start, taking advantage of a Geneva miscue in the bottom of the first to take the early 1-0 lead.  Leadoff man AJ Kavinsky reached on an error, advanced to second on a ground out, and then scored on a Zack Galasso single to right center.

Neither team would find the board again until the top of the fourth, when Geneva scored twice to go in front 2-1, but SVC would answer right back to take the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fifth.  Joey Fearer led off the inning with a double to the right field corner, before Kavinsky reached on a fielder's choice, sending Fearer to third.  Two batters later, Joe Aul cleared the bases with a double to the gap in left center to put the Bearcats back on top 3-2.

The back-and-forth theme would continue, as Geneva sent eight batter to the plate in the top of the six, scoring three runs on four hits to take a 5-3 lead, but the Bearcats would then come to life in the bottom half of the frame.

With one out, Erik Fichter walked, and then moved to second on a single from Steve Bayko.  Both runners would advance 90 feet on a wild pitch, before Fearer reached on an error, plating Fichter and making the score 5-4.  Kavinsky would then drive in Bayko with an RBI single, followed by a two-run single to center from Brad Burkardt to allow the Bearcats to regain the lead, 6-5.  After a sacrifice fly from Galasso and an RBI single from Mike Hustava, SVC would end the inning with the 9-5 lead.

The four run cushion was more than enough for Bearcat hurler Darren Smith (pictured), who was on in relief of starter Jeremy Mains.  Smith, who came on in the top of the sixth, would allow just one hit and two base runners between the seventh and ninth innings, to earn his first win of the season.

Mains, making his first start on the mound for the Bearcats in nearly two years, did well in his comeback, working 5.1 innings and allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits with four strikeouts.

The Bearcat offense totaled 12 hits on the day, as all nine starters recorded at least one safety, with Galasso, Bayko, and Bush each going 2-for-4.  Saint Vincent took advantage of five Geneva errors on the day, which led to four unearned runs.

Geneva's Mike Sulava came on the mound in the sixth and was saddled with the loss, working 1.2 innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits.  Doug Sanson started for the Golden Tornadoes, allowing five runs on seven hits in 5.1 innings.

Mike Jefferys had three hits and two RBIs for Geneva, while Sulava and Noah Medich each with 2-for-4.  Geneva finished with nine hits on the afternoon.

The Bearcats, who kicked off a stretch of seven games in eight days with the Geneva win, will continue their busy week tomorrow (Tuesday), opening Presidents' Athletic Conference play with a 1pm home doubleheader with Grove City.