DETROIT, Mich. – Home runs by Josh Medrano and Reese Rinna provided a spark, but the Monarchs couldn't get additional offense going in a 5-3 setback in nine innings to Henry Ford at The Corner Ballpark in Detroit on Thursday (March 30). The loss drops the shorthanded Monarchs to 0-4 in conference play and 4-13 overall. The host Hawks shifted to 7-9 overall and 2-2 in conference play with the two-run win.

Joey Tedesco (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich./Grosse Pointe North/Hillsdale) got the start and racked up seven strikeouts in another solid performance. The sophomore left-handed pitcher ended the first four innings via strikeout during his six-inning outing Thursday evening.

Medrano (Surprise, Az./Shadow Ridge) got the Monarchs on the board first with a towering drive over the left field wall in the top of the second. The home run – the first of Medrano's Macomb career – gave the Monarchs an early 1-0 lead. Unfortunately for Tedesco and the Monarchs, Medrano's solo shot marked the final run the Blue & White would tally over the next six-plus innings in the narrow defeat.

The difference in the ball game was a four-run outburst by the Hawks in the fifth inning. The Hawks posted four in the fifth and later plated one in the seventh inning to take a 5-1 lead.

In the ninth, Rinna (Richmond, Mich./Richmond) stepped to the plate with one runner on and connected on a no-doubter that eventually crashed down on the roof of the lofts beyond the right field wall at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull. The home run was Rinna's second of the season in only his seventh game played and 22^nd at bat.

Rinna's blast cut the deficit in half at 5-3 and the Monarchs would later bring the game-tying run to the plate in the final frame before the Hawks closed it out to get the win.

The Monarchs host St. Clair County Community College Saturday (April 1) at 1 p.m. Heavy rain is expected in the area Friday into Saturday. Follow Macomb Athletics on twitter, Facebook and Instagram for the latest news on Saturday's game and more.