ROME, Ga. – Opening Day was unkind to Macomb Baseball as the Monarchs lost a multi-run lead in both games to finish the day 0-2. The Monarchs dropped the opener to NJCAA Division I Wabash Valley by a 12-4 final before falling in game two to NJCAA Division II No. 12 Catawba Valley by a 14-5 score.

GAME ONE
Wabash Valley, a perennial DI power, came into Friday's game with an 8-3 record and averaging 20 runs per game over last three. The Monarchs held an early 4-1 lead before the Warriors rattled off 11 unanswered to power to the 12-4 decision. Norberick Garcia went 2-for-4 with a run scored to pace the Monarchs while Aidan Miller drove in a pair of runs on a 1-for-3 effort at the plate.

Marwynn Matthews Jr. tripled for the Monarchs' lone extra-base hit of the contest.

GAME TWO
Game two action saw freshman right-handed pitcher Greg Burns fan seven but Catawba Valley—a NJCAA DII World Series team from a season ago—executed with runners in scoring position and eventually posted a six-run sixth inning to earn a 14-5 win.

Debol connected on a 3-run home run in third to put the Monarchs in front, 4-2, but the Monarchs couldn't bring any more runs across to score in the tilt against the 12^th ranked Red Hawks. Matthews and Peyton Rich led the Monarchs with two hits each. Garcia, Matthews and Miller all recorded a double on a day where the Monarchs stranded 20 runners.