JACKSON – The magic number is 1 for Macomb Baseball after the Monarchs split on the road at Jackson on Friday (May 2) with a 9-5 setback in the opener and an emphatic 14-1 five-inning victory in the nightcap. The split saw the Monarchs end the day with a 31-15 overall record and a 16-7 mark in MCCAA East play with two games remaining.

One win, or a Mott loss, will officially clinch the Monarchs' second trip to the postseason in as many seasons under the guidance of third-year head coach Taylor Grzelakowski.

GAME ONE: Jackson 9, Macomb 5
An early 4-0 lead on a barrage of hits and a Nicholas Sandiha Jr. grand slam didn't hold as the Jets rallied to win the opener, 9-5. Vincent Cowdrey led the Monarchs in the hit department with a 3-for-4 opener while Luke Babcock followed with two hits.

GAME TWO: Macomb 14, Jackson 1 (5 inn.)
The Monarchs scored in every inning in a 14-1 five-inning triumph as Nathan Fidelino led the charge with his fourth home run of the season and a team-best three RBIs on a 2-for-3 effort. Vincent Cowdrey remained red-hot at the plate with a 2-for-3 game two that included a pair of RBIs, while Nicholas Sandiha Jr. went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs himself, and Luke Babcock drove in a run on a 2-for-4 game two clip.

Matt Hanneman hit his seventh home run of the season while going 1-for-2 with a pair of runs scored and Derek Neufeld was in command throughout all five innings to earn his third win of the campaign. Neufeld struck out three and held the Jets to one earned in the cruise control victory.

Adrian Epps stole his 38^th base of the season in game two to finish three shy of tying the single-season program record of 41 set by Gary Maccagnone in 1979.