DETROIT, Mich. – Macomb Baseball remained atop the MCCAA Eastern Conference standings after earning a road split at The Corner Ballpark against the host Hawks of Henry Ford College on Thursday (April 9). The Monarchs held a 5-2 lead in the opener before falling 7-5 and bounced back in the nightcap with a 6-3 victory.
With the split, the Monarchs moved to 18-13 overall and 8-3 in the MCCAA East. The Hawks shifted to 18-8 overall and 6-5 in the conference standings with the split.
GAME ONE: Henry Ford 7, Macomb 5
Both sides traded a pair of runs in the first inning before the Monarchs plated three in the top of the third to take a 5-2 lead. The three-run advantage didn't last long as the Hawks evened the game with a three-run third of their own as part of five unanswered to post a 7-5 win.
Buster Debol went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, his second of the year, while Evan Morrison was 2-for-4 with a three-run blast in the top of the third. Morrison's three-run shot marked the first home run of his collegiate career. While Debol and Morrison cleared the fence, Aidan Miller highlighted the opener with 3-for-4 effort that featured three doubles.
GAME TWO: Macomb 6, Henry Ford 3
The Monarchs took the lead for the second time in as many games on Thursday and this time didn't relinquish their advantage in a 6-3 victory. The Monarchs led 4-1 after three before the Hawks cut it to 4-3 entering the seventh and final inning.
In the top of the seventh, Norberick Garcia was called upon to pinch hit and delivered with a two-out, two-RBI single to give the Monarchs insurance runs and help seal the 6-3 win.
A two-run home run by Lochlan Stoudt in the third inning would stand as the game-winning hit in the pivotal victory. The home run by Stoudt was his team-leading seventh of the season. Stoudt's seven home runs is good for second across the MCCAA.
Brendan Przybycki got the start and the win, moving to 3-3 on the season after pitching 5.2 innings and striking out three.
Nick Riebschleger came on in the bottom of the sixth and recorded a huge out while
Aidan Manzella came on in the seventh and closed the door for his third save of the campaign.
Peyton Rich led the Monarchs with a 3-for-3 nightcap that included a double and two runs scored.
Marwynn Matthews Jr went 2-for-4 while Morrison was 2-for-3 to cap off a strong return to the lineup.
UP NEXT: Series Finale vs. Henry Ford in Warren on Saturday
The Monarchs and Hawks will wrap up their season series on Saturday (April 11) with a twin bill in Warren beginning at 1 p.m. Live stream coverage will be available on MacombMonarchs.com/Watch with Tom Cavanaugh on the call.
