GREENWOOD, SC – Hector Jaimes (Trenton, Mich./Western International) struck out 10 batters across five innings in a 1-0 loss in the opener and Oliver Barkal (Winnetka, Ill./New Trier/Niagara Univ.) fanned 11 over a six-inning complete game performance in a 10-0 win in game two to highlight a Monday (March 4) split for Macomb Baseball.

One day after a 16-run on 18-hit performance, the Monarchs made hard contact, but ultimately were unlucky as several lined shots went straight to a Lander University JV defender in a narrow 1-0 setback to open Monday's action at Stephen B. Dolny Stadium. The host Bears scored one run in the first inning and that's all the scoring the opener would see in the 1-0 affair.

Jaimes was brilliant throughout game one and went on to record 10 punch outs while only surrendering four hits and one earned run across five innings of work. Dominic Miller (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) came on in relief and struck out two in his lone inning on the mound in the opener.

Game two was a much different story, offensively, at least. While Barkal picked up where Jaimes and Miller left off, the Monarch bats got going in Monday's latter contest, led by a pair of doubles and a team-high-tying two RBI off the bat of Dylan Pawenski (Shelby Twp., Mich./Utica/Madonna). Pawenski went 2-for-4 on the day with a run scored and was followed in the extra base hit category by Ty Stepek (Commerce Twp., Mich./Walled Lake Northern/GVSU) who connected on a double of his own as part of a 2-for-4 effort with an RBI and two runs scored. Dane Richards (Macomb, Mich./Stevenson), the Fall MVP, hit the team's first triple of the 2024 campaign and went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a pair of runs scored.

Riley Ames (Sylvania, Ohio/Northview) also went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored and Derek Ruiz (Port Huron, Mich./Port Huron Northern) went 2-for-4 while driving in a run and scoring a run.
While the offense was hot in game two, the contest belonged to Barkal, a NCAA Division I transfer. The sophomore right-handed pitcher was dominant and only allowed one hit and one walk while striking out 11 batters in a six-inning complete game effort (run rule win, 10-0).

The Monarchs have an off-day Tuesday and will return to the diamond in Mount Vernon, Ga. on Wednesday with a twin bill at Brewton-Parker JV. First pitch for game one against the Barons is slated for 4 p.m.