FLINT, Mich. – Can't win 'em all! Macomb Baseball went up to Flint on Sunday (April 21) and came away with a split after winning game one, 12-0, and falling in the series finale, 15-5. The road split ended the series with Mott well in Macomb's favor as the Monarchs won three of four over the weekend and four out of five overall this season.
The Monarchs ended the day at 11-5 in the MCCAA East with nine league games remaining, two-and-a-half games ahead of Mott for the second and final playoff spot available to the conference for the upcoming NJCAA Region 12 Tournament. At 11-5, the Monarchs are firmly in the hunt for a shot at the MCCAA East title as first place Jackson checks in at 13-4 in league play with eight conference games remaining.
As for Sunday, the Monarchs posted 10 runs in the opening inning of game one on their way to earning a 12-0 win in five innings. Through the first three games of the weekend, the Monarchs outscored the Bears 37-9 and amassed 41 hits along the way. The Monarchs dropped game two, 15-5, but were able to win four of five overall over a talented Bears team and posted a +19 run differential over the five game season series (47-28).
Brady Krzciok and
Ryan McKay paced the Monarchs in Sunday's opener by going 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored each.
Ty Stepek checked in at 2-for-2 for two RBIs while
Alex Mendes was an equal 2-for-2 at the plate with an RBI and a pair of runs scored.
Dylan Pawenski was 2-for-3 and drove in a run, while
Riley Ames and
Derek Ruiz drove home two runs apiece.
Adrian Epps stole a game-high two bases and was followed by Mendes and Pawenski in the category with one each.
Hector Jaimes was in control throughout the opener and went on to earn his first collegiate win with a five-inning shutout performance. Jaimes struck out five and walked none on his way to earning his all-important first win on the mound.
Krzciok, McKay,
Vincent Cowdrey and
Reese Rinna all recorded two hits in game two.
The Monarchs return to action Thursday (moved from Tuesday) at Cleary University for a non-conference doubleheader.
