Macomb Community College Athletics

TOURNAMENT CENTRAL (Bracket & Schedule)

JACKSON, Mich. – No. 22 Macomb Baseball opened the championship round of the NJCAA Region 12 Tournament Thursday (May 14) with a 10-4 victory over third-seeded Cuyahoga Community College. The Monarchs (37-15), the tournament's No. 2 seed, advance to the winner's bracket final on Friday against the nation's No. 1 team, the Bruins of Kellogg Community College. First pitch for the showdown between ranked teams is set for 11 a.m. from Jackson College.

With today's postseason victory, the Monarchs have won 37 games this season, tied for the most by the program since the 2012 campaign. The tournament-opening win was also the third victory of the year for the Monarchs over the Triceratops.  

Thursday's opener was never in doubt as the Monarchs jumped on top early and owned a commanding 7-0 lead through three innings of play behind timely hitting and a stellar start by freshman right-handed pitcher Greg Burns. The Triceratops would rally late, but the Monarchs thwarted the comeback bid to earn the 10-4 victory.

Buster Debol drove in a game-high four runs on a 2-for-5 effort, while Peyton Rich posted a game-best three hits (3-for-5) with an RBI and two runs scored. Aidan Miller was 2-for-4 with a triple, RBI and three runs scored, while Brett Leonard was 2-for-3 with a double and a pair of runs scored and Evan Morrison was 1-for-3 with two RBIs.

Burns got the start and was impressive from the opening frame as the freshman struck out the side in the first on his way to fanning seven through four innings. Brendan Przybycki relieved Burns and recorded a pair of strikeouts in four innings while earning the win to move to 7-3 on the season. Connor Hayden pitched the ninth inning for the Monarchs and posted a strikeout.