CALEDONIA – Macomb Baseball moved to 13-9 on the season with a non-conference split at Davenport JV on Tuesday (April 1). While the doubleheader was coined as games against the Panthers' junior varsity squad, the Monarchs faced several varsity arms throughout the day as they went on the split with a 6-5 loss in game one and a 6-1 game two victory.

GAME ONE: Davenport 6, Macomb 5
After a slow start, the Monarch bats came alive in the top of the fifth, slicing what was a 4-0 Panther advantage to a 4-3 ball game thanks to an RBI single by Nathan Fidelino and a two-RBI double by Luke Babcock.

The Panthers tacked one on in the home half of the frame to lead 5-3 before the Monarchs tied it, 5-5, in the seventh on back-to-back RBI singles by Babcock and Jacob Frederick. The Monarchs had a runner in scoring position with one out and two with two outs but couldn't bring the go-ahead run home in the final frame.

Game one would end a half inning later as the Panthers walked it off via wild pitch to capture the 6-5 win.

Babcock and Fidelino led the Monarchs with two hits and a double each, while Babcock drove in a game-high three runs in the opener.

GAME TWO: Macomb 6, Davenport 1
The Monarchs scored two in the third and plated a pair in the fourth to open up a 4-0 lead in what ended in a 6-1 victory. Vincent Cowdrey got the scoring started with a sac bunt in the third and Nathan Fidelino hit his second double of the day one batter later to put the Monarchs in front, 2-0.

Dane Richards made it a 4-0 game in the fourth with a two-run home run to left, his third of the season, while Aidan Miller drove in the fifth run two innings later to cap off a 2-for-3 game and Cameron Simms went 1-for-1 at the plate with an RBI that plated the Monarchs' sixth and final run of the contest.

Miller, Richards and Riley Ames all had two hits to pace the offense while Ames added three stolen bases and Miller swiped a pair. Adrian Epps tied Ames for the team lead in stolen bases with three in the game two win.

A combination of six different pitchers saw time in the seven-inning nightcap, led by game two starter Derek Neufeld who fanned five in two cruise-control innings. Evan Robinson came on in the fourth to toss two innings of four-strikeout ball to earn the win and move to 3-1, while the combination of Matt Dickinson and Bryson Roberts teamed up for four strikeouts while getting the final six outs.

Derick Garcia worked the third inning and struck out a pair.
 
UP NEXT: Four-Game Conference Series vs. Mott
The Monarchs open the seven-inning portion of conference play at home on Thursday with a doubleheader against Mott Community College. First pitch for game one is slated for 2 p.m. in Warren. Following Thursday's twin bill, the Monarchs will head to Flint on Saturday to wrap up the season series with the Bears. First pitch for Saturday's doubleheader is set for 1 p.m.