MATTOON, Ill. – Two games, two different outcomes as Macomb Baseball erupted for a 13-3 win in five innings over Rock Valley College in Friday's (Feb. 27) opener before dropping the nightcap to NJCAA Division I Southwestern Illinois College, 10-0, in six innings. Both games were part of Lake Lake College's Otto Memorial Tournament.

The Monarchs (1-5) close out their time in Illinois with two games on Saturday, the first against the host and NJCAA DI receiving votes Lakers at 10 a.m. CT and the latter opposite South Suburban College at 12:30 p.m. CT.

GAME ONE: Macomb 13, Rock Valley 3 (F/5)
Dominic Cavacini had a career game, belting a pair of home runs, including a walk-off two-run blast in the fifth to end the game via run rule. In all, Cavacini drove in five runs on two home runs and a double to pace the 13-run Monarch outburst.

Aidan Miller and Lochlan Stoudt also homered for the Monarchs with Miller adding a double as part of a 2-for-2 opener. Stoudt was 2-for-3 with three RBI, while Zach Freitag was 1-for-1 with a double and two runs scored.

On the mound, freshman right-handed pitcher Greg Burns was in command early and often, punching out eight Rock Valley batters while only surrendering three earned to pick up his first win at the collegiate level. With eight strikeouts Friday, Burns has now fanned 15 batters through 9.2 innings pitched this season.

The Monarchs plated runs in each of the five innings played and ended the game with back-to-back four-run innings in the fourth and fifth to close out the contest.

GAME TWO: SWIC 10, Macomb 0 (F/6)
Trailing 5-0 in the top of the sixth, the Monarchs loaded the bases with two outs before SWIC ended the frame and eventually went on to tally five in the home half for the 10-0 win. Errors doomed the Monarchs throughout as the Blue & White gave a potent SWIC offense four extra outs to play with in the setback.

Marwynn Matthews Jr shined at the plate in the nightcap, going 3-for-3 with a double and triple.