GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Macomb Baseball snapped a five game skid in emphatic fashion with a doubleheader sweep over the host Golden Eagles of Cornerstone University JV Tuesday (March 28) in Grand Rapids. The Monarchs cruised in both games, winning game one by an 11-0 final and game two, 11-4.

Out of the 22 runs scored over two games, the Monarchs plated over half in the opening inning of each game as the Blue & White tallied seven runs in the first inning of game one and five runs in the opening frame of the nightcap.

The wins move the Monarchs to 4-12 on the season. In all, the Monarchs recorded 10 extra-base hits in the doubleheader sweep, two coming in game one and a grand total of eight in Tuesday's latter contest.

GAME ONE: Macomb 11, Cornerstone JV 0
While the offense started to roll early with seven first inning runs, game one belonged to the right arm of sophomore pitcher Ryan Polega (Macomb, Mich./Henry Ford II). Polega was brilliant throughout as the former Henry Ford II product struck out the side in the first inning and never looked back in what was a dominant performance. After setting the tone in the first inning, Polega was dialed in and went on to record a career-high 11 strikeouts while scattering five hits in a seven-inning, complete-game shutout.

Tuesday's impressive performance was Polega's first complete game/shutout at the collegiate level and his first win of the 2023 campaign.

The 11 strikeouts was also the most by a Macomb pitcher since March 19, 2019 when Cam Lenneman struck out 13 in a 5-1 win over Jefferson Community College.

Offensively, the Monarchs were led by Adam Amodei (Mt. Clemens, Mich./Chippewa Valley), Josh Medrano (Surprise, Az./Shadow Ridge) and Joey Tedesco (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich./Grosse Pointe North/Hillsdale). Amodei went 2-for-4 with a double and a team-high four RBIs, while Medrano went 2-for-2 with a double and a pair of RBIs. Tedesco was 1-for-3 with two RBIs as the trio drove in eight of the Monarchs' 11 runs in the opener.

Griffin Baalaer (Macomb, Mich./L'Anse Creuse North), Ben Dillabough (Warren, Mich./Warren Mott) and Reese Rinna (Richmond, Mich./Richmond) all drove in a run each to round out the game one leaders at the plate.

GAME TWO: Macomb 11, Cornerstone JV 4
After 11 runs in game one, the Monarchs plated five in the first inning of game two on their way to another 11-run outburst. The Monarchs, winners by an 11-4 final tally, had more than enough offense a half inning into the contest but went on to add two runs in the third and three more in the fourth to cruise to victory.

Reese Rinna continued his strong return to the lineup with a perfect 3-for-3 effort that included a pair of doubles, a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored. Adam Amodei built off a 2-for-4 opener with another 2-for-4 performance in the nightcap, this time adding a triple and two RBIs. Logan Ramsey (Warren, Mich./Warren Mott/Concordia-Ann Arbor) started at first base and went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs driven in, while Jack Blomme (Oxford, Mich./Oxford) started in left and went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.

Josh Medrano remained perfect at the plate Tuesday with another 2-for-2 effort that featured a double, RBI and two runs scored. Ben Dillabough rounded out the game two offensive leaders with an RBI double and two runs scored.

On the mound, Gavin Nareski (Fenton, Mich./Holly) came on for 3.1 innings of shutout ball to earn the win, his first of the season. Nareski didn't allow a run and struck out three over the 3.1 innings of work. Owen Lamky (Chesterfield, Mich./L'Anse Creuse North) got the start and fanned five batters before giving way to Nareski.

UP NEXT
The Monarchs visit The Corner Ballpark in Detroit Thursday for a game under the lights at 7:30 p.m. against the host Hawks of Henry Ford College.