WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Macomb Baseball bounced back from early deficits in each game to sweep Sunday's (March 8) doubleheader against North Dakota College of Science. The Monarchs negated a 3-1 deficit with 12 unanswered to win the oepner, 13-3, in six innings. Game two saw the Monarchs dig a 7-1 hole before plating 10 unanswered runs to win, 11-7.
With the pair of victories, the Monarchs move to 5-7 on the season. The Monarchs will have the day off on Monday before their twin bill against No. 18 Kirkwood Community College on Tuesday. First pitch for game one in Winter Haven is set for 9:15 a.m.
GAME ONE: Macomb 13, NDCS 3 (6 inn.)
After opening the game with a run in the top of the first inning, the Monarchs found themselves trailing a half inning later as the Bobcats plated three early run. Sophomore left-handed pitcher Connor Hayden didn't allow another run the rest of the way as Sunday's starter went the full six innings in the contest and struck out nine.
With Hayden in a groove, the Monarch bats got hot, scoring five in the third before bringing seven more home over the final three innings for the 13-3 run-rule victory.
Norberick Garcia led the charge in the opener offensively, going 3-for-4 with a double, triple, four RBIs and three runs scored. Lochlan Stoudt was 1-for-3 at the plate with a crucial bases-clearing triple and added a stolen base. Peyton Rich went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
GAME TWO: Macomb 11, NDCS 7
Down big early due to miscues, the Monarchs were staring a 7-1 deficit through two-and-a-half innings before the bats responded to post runs in each of the next four innings to earn the 11-7 victory. The Monarchs brought on across in the third, two in the fourth, four in the fifth and capped it off with three insurance runs in the sixth.
Dominic Cavacini led the Monarchs at the plate with three RBIs while Aidan Miller hit his second home run of the campaign, doing so in the three-run sixth to give the Monarchs cushion late.
Garcia, Marwynn Matthews Jr and Evan Morrison each recorded an RBI in a balanced game two for the Monarchs.
Logan Ion earned the win on the mound after throwing two innings of relief and striking out five batters. Aidan Manzella shut the door in the seventh, recording two strikeouts, including one to end the game.
