HAMTRAMCK, Mich. – Macomb Baseball continued its torrid pace in conference play with a pair of decisive victories on Tuesday (April 30) over Henry Ford at Hamtramck Stadium. The Monarchs improved to 22-14 overall and 15-5 in MCCAA Eastern Conference play after picking up a 9-3 win in game one and a 16-2 victory in game two.
At 15-5 in league play with five conference games remaining—all against SC4 later this week—the Monarchs are 1.5 games back of first place Jackson and 2.5 games ahead of third place Mott. The top two teams in the conference qualify for the Region XII Tournament.
The 15-5 league record also has the Monarchs within striking distance of the program's first conference title in nearly 30 years (1995). The Monarchs would need a strong finish to the regular season and some help from Mott in order to earn the historic title.
The Monarchs return to action on Thursday (May 2) at Sanborn Park in Port Huron against SC4. Thursday will feature a special 12 p.m. start time as the teams will resume their suspended game from March 30 where the Monarchs lead 3-0 entering the top of the sixth inning. A doubleheader will follow on Thursday before the two teams finish the regular season in Warren on Saturday with a twin bill beginning at 1 p.m. Sophomore Day festivities will take place at the conclusion of game two Saturday afternoon.
GAME ONE: Macomb 9, Henry Ford 3
Ryan Sieler (Monroe, Mich./Monroe) got the game one start and went on to strike out five batters in four innings of work to move to 3-0 on the season.
Jack Saputo (Windsor, Ontario/St. Anne's Catholic) came on for the nine-out save, his fourth of the season, while
Brady Krzciok (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston/Madonna) and
Reese Rinna (Richmond, Mich./Richmond) hit a home run each to help lead the Monarchs to a 9-3 victory. Krzciok was 1-for-1 with a solo home run, four walks and three runs scored while Rinna went 2-for-4 (2-R HR) with three RBIs and two runs scored.
Dylan Pawenski (Shelby Twp., Mich./Utica/Madonna) doubled as part of a 3-for-5 opener while
Ty Stepek (Commerce Twp., Mich./Walled Lake Northern/GVSU) went 3-for-4 with two runs scored.
GAME TWO: Macomb 16, Henry Ford 2 (F/6)
A seven-run second inning set the tone in game two and the Monarchs later brought in five more in the sixth to earn a 16-2 run rule victory in six innings.
Alex Mendes (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) starred in game two with a pair of home runs, his second and third of the season, as the sophomore went 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Mendes' two long balls paced a five home run game for the Monarchs as
Ty Stepek hit a 3-run shot in the sixth and
Vincent Cowdrey (White Lake, Mich./Orchard Lake St. Mary's) and
Dylan Pawenski added solo blast each.
Cowdrey's solo shot was the first of his career at the collegiate level.
Stepek drove in a game-high four runs, while Mendes followed with three.
Ryan McKay (Macomb, Mich./Chippewa Valley) checked in at 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored and
Reese Rinna kept up his strong play with a double and two RBIs.
Derek Ruiz (Port Huron, Mich./Port Huron Northern/Madonna) rounded out the game two offensive leaders after going 2-for-4 with an RBI double.
Dominic Miller (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) earned the win in his first college start to move to 3-1 on the season and
Nick Stempnik (Warren, Mich./Warren Mott) impressed with two shut down innings to close out the run rule victory. Miller scattered four hits across four innings on the hill, striking out two, while Stempnik punched out four of his six batters faced.
