PORT HURON, Mich. – Nine in a row! Macomb Baseball extended its winning streak to nine games with a doubleheader sweep over the Skippers of St. Clair County Community College on Friday (April 24) at Sanborn Park in Port Huron. The Monarchs slugged their way to a 12-9 victory in game one before taking the finale by a 10-6 margin to win all five meetings with the Skippers this season.

The sweep pushed the Monarchs to 30-15 overall, marking back-to-back 30-win seasons for the program. More importantly, Friday's sweep helped the Monarchs maintain sole possession of first place in the MCCAA East at 16-5 in conference play.

GAME ONE: Macomb 12, SC4 9
The Monarchs held an 8-3 lead through three-and-a-half innings before the Skippers rallied to tie the game, twice, to deadlock the contest at 9-9 entering the seventh inning. Brett Leonard hit the go-ahead and game-winning home run in the top of the seventh, a solo shot that ignited a three-run frame as the Monarchs prevailed, 12-9. The home run, Leonard's fourth of the week, was his second of the game and fifth of the season. The freshman also doubled as part of an impressive 4-for-4 game with four RBIs and three runs scored.

Evan Morrison hit his second home run of the campaign and doubled to finish 2-for-3, while Dominic Cavacini made his long-awaited return to the lineup with a 2-for-3 effort that included an RBI and run scored. 

On the mound, Connor Hayden moved to 3-0 on the season after recording the final 12 outs of the contest. Hayden held the Skippers to four hits in four innings and didn't allow an earned run to cross the plate in the winning effort.

GAME TWO: Macomb 10, SC4 6
A six-run sixth inning helped the Monarchs turn a 4-4 tie into a 10-4 lead and eventual four-run victory in game two. Aidan Miller gave the Monarchs a 2-0 lead in the fourth with his fourth home run of the week. The home run was Miller's ninth of the season, tying Lochlan Stoudt for the team lead.

The teams traded runs from there and went into the sixth inning tied, 4-4, before a Peyton Rich RBI single and Zackary Grinde two-RBI double sparked a six-run frame to secure the win and sweep. 

Leonard, Miller, Rich and Buster Debol all recorded two-hit games for the Monarchs while Grinde and Leonard tied for the team lead in RBIs with two each.

Evan Robinson got the start and didn't allow an earned run in three-and-two-thirds innings of work. Nick Riebschleger moved to 3-0 after being credited for the win for his work in the middle innings, while Connor O'Neil fanned three and only surrendered one hit in the final inning-and-two-thirds.

UP NEXT: Sophomore Day and the Battle for MCCAA East Supremacy
The Monarchs conclude regular season play with a four-game set against Jackson College beginning Thursday (April 30) in Warren. The doubleheader is set for a 2 p.m. first pitch as the Monarchs look to secure the program's third league title in as many seasons and the program's first outright conference crown since 1987. The series wraps up with a doubleheader in Jackson on Saturday (May 2).

The Monarchs will hold their annual Sophomore Day festivities following the conclusion of Thursday's home doubleheader.