HARRIMAN, Tenn. – Macomb Baseball battled tough with NJCAA Division I Roane State before ultimately falling in two close games by final scores of 6-3 and 3-1. The Monarchs brought the game-winning run to the plate in the final inning of game one and the game-tying run to the plate to end the nightcap but fell just short in the narrow decisions.
GAME ONE: Roane State 6, Macomb 3
The Monarchs threatened in the seventh and brought the game-winning run to the plate, but the host Raiders closed it out for the 6-3 victory.
Ben Dillabough (Warren, Mich./Warren Mott) and
Joey Tedesco (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich./Grosse Pointe North/Hillsdale) connected on a triple each while Tedesco drove in one of the three Monarch runs in the opener.
Alex Mendes (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) continued his steady start with an RBI and a pair of walks and
Nick Stokan (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams) recorded his first RBI at the collegiate level.
Three other Monarchs joined Dillabough and Tedesco in the hit column as
Griffin Baalaer (Macomb, Mich./L'Anse Creuse North),
Terry Dean (Davison, Mich./Davison) and
Josh Medrano (Surprise, Az./Shadow Ridge) all recorded a single on equal 1-for-3 efforts in the setback.
Jake Wohlfert (Hartland, Mich./Hartland) got the start and struck out four over three innings, while
Bryan Masterson (Roseville, Mich./Roseville) came on in relief to punch out two batters.
Owen Lamky (Chesterfield, Mich./L'Anse Creuse North) relieved Masterson and held Roane State to one-hit over a scoreless 1 1/3.
GAME TWO: Roane State 3, Macomb 1
Jake Verellen (Macomb, Mich./Eisenhower) was solid in his collegiate debut as the freshman scattered two hits and only surrendered two runs over four innings of work to help keep a powerful Roane State offense at bay.
Ryan Becroft (Warren, Mich./Warren Mott) spelled Verellen and also impressed in his collegiate debut. The freshman from nearby Warren Mott held Roane State to one hit over two scoreless innings and added two strikeouts across nine batters faced.
The offense couldn't get going in the latter contest, managing two hits, one off the bat of
Joey Tedesco and the other by
Carlo Corona (Clinton Twp., Mich./Chippewa Valley). Corona's hit was the first of his collegiate career.
UP NEXT
Competition continues to heat up for the Monarchs as the Blue & White will close out the 2023 spring trip with a four-game set at NJCAA Division I perennial power and current No. 10 Georgia Highlands College. The four-game series begins with a doubleheader Friday at 4 p.m. and concludes Saturday with a twin bill beginning at 11 a.m.
