WARREN, Mich. – History made! The Macomb Baseball team clinched its first outright conference championship since 1987 Thursday (April 30) with a doubleheader sweep over Jackson College. The Monarchs won game one, 3-0, before rolling to a 10-2 victory in the nightcap to secure their third straight MCCAA Eastern Conference crown and first outright conference title in 39 years.
With the sweep, the Monarchs moved to 32-15 overall and 18-5 in MCCAA East play. The Monarchs have one doubleheader remaining in regular season play at Jackson on Saturday. First pitch for game one is set for a special start time of 3 p.m. due to graduation on Jackson's campus.
GAME ONE: Macomb 3, Jackson 0
Johnathan Meyette pitched a gem in the opener as he fired a complete game shutout for his MCCAA best sixth win of the year. The sophomore from Saginaw held the visiting Jets to just four hits while striking out eight in a pivotal game that gave the Monarchs a share of their third straight conference title.
Buster Debol got the offense going with an RBI single in the second inning to bring home Cameron Simms. An RBI double by Jackson transfer Zackary Grinde made it 2-0 in the bottom of the third inning before Aidan Miller drove home Macomb's final run with an RBI single through the left side in the fifth inning to score Marwynn Matthews Jr.
GAME TWO: Macomb 10, Jackson 2
After taking care of business in the opener and clinching a share of the conference title, the Monarchs left little doubt in the second game of the day as they rolled to a 10-2 victory.
The Monarchs plated three runs in the bottom of the first inning to make it 3-0 and never looked back as part of the eight-run victory. Evan Morrison launched a two-run home run over the left field fence to break open game two, giving the Monarchs a 5-1 lead and all the momentum in the nightcap.
The Morrison blast ignited a five-run frame, giving the Monarchs a decisive 8-1 lead.
Brendan Przybycki moved to 5-3 on the season after tossing five innings of four-strikeout ball. The sophomore starter gave way to fellow sophomores
Connor Hayden and
Nicholas Stempnik who each fanned two in an inning of work.
Morrison's home run was his third of the year. Peyton Rich had a huge game two as he went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Matthews Jr went 2-for-4 with an RBI double, stolen base and two runs scored while Grinde added an RBI double. Miller was 1-for-2 with an RBI, two walks and two runs scored and Debol continued his impressive sophomore day by going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
UP NEXT: Regular Season FInale at Jackson
The Monarchs and Jets wrap up their four-game series with a doubleheader Saturday in Jackson. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
