DETROIT, Mich. – Macomb Baseball returned to The Corner Ballpark in Detroit on Sunday (April 19), this time as the home team, to take on Schoolcraft College in an MCCAA Eastern Conference doubleheader. The Monarchs made the most of their time as the home team in Detroit as they swept the twin bill behind a 7-5 game one win and a 6-5 walk-off victory in extras in the finale.
The sweep moved the Monarchs to 24-15 overall and back into a first place tie atop the MCCAA East at 12-5 in conference play.
GAME ONE: Macomb 7, Schoolcraft 5
A five-run bottom of the second inning by the Monarchs proved to be the difference in the opener as the Blue & White posted a 7-5 win.
Marwynn Matthews Jr led the offense, going 2-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored, two RBIs and a stolen base. Norberick Garcia had a 1-for-3 opener with two RBIs, Buster Debol recorded a walk and an RBI and Peyton Rich was 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Brendan Przybycki (W, 4-2) struck out seven across five innings to earn the win on the mound. Connor O'Neil recorded his first career save after pitching a scoreless top of the seventh inning.
GAME TWO: Macomb 6, Schoolcraft 5 (8 inn.)
The Monarchs scored in each of the first three innings, but it was Schoolcraft who took a 5-3 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. Trailing by two and down to their final three outs, Zackary Grinde would tie the game on a heroic two-run home run. Grinde's emphatic blast knotted the game, 5-5, and sent the game into an eighth inning where Buster Debol walked it off with an RBI single that plated Matthews.
Matthews started the eighth inning fireworks with a two-out single back up the middle and later made it all the way to third on an error by the Ocelots to set the table for Debol's walk-off knock.
Grinde's home run was his sixth of the year as he finished game two 2-for-2 with a walk. Lochlan Stoudt hit his team-leading eighth home run of the year with a solo blast in the bottom of the second. Evan Morrison was 1-for-1 with two walks and an RBI while Aidan Miller also had a walk and an RBI.
A bullpen game for the pitching staff saw Connor Hayden earn the win in relief after pitching the final inning-and-a-third for the Monarchs. The sophomore moved to 2-0 on the year after coming in to settling things down while striking out three batters.
UP NEXT: At Terra State on Tuesday
The Monarchs head to Terra State Community College for their final non-conference games of the regular season on Tuesday (April 21). First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. in Sandusky, Ohio.
