WARREN, Mich. – In the words of the great Jack Buck, "I don't believe what I just saw"! Macomb Baseball pulled off two thrilling victories over Mott Community College on Thursday (May 7) to win the best-of-three series, 2-0, after posting a 6-5 walk-off win in game one and a heart-stopping 8-6 triumph in game two.
The pair of victories lifted the Monarchs' winning streak to 15 in a row.
With the series win, the Monarchs move on to next week's final round of the Region XII Championship, a double-elimination tournament, May 13-16. As the second-highest seed remaining, the Monarchs are set to play on May 14 at 11 a.m. opposite the third-highest seed remaining seed.
GAME ONE: Macomb 6, Mott 5
The Monarchs recovered from a tough outing to walk off the Bears in game one on an
Aidan Miller opposite field RBI single that plated
Vito Zito. The game-winning RBI single gave the Monarchs a 6-5 win despite a host of early errors.
The Bears went on top early, taking a 4-0 lead through a half inning of play behind two Monarch errors in the frame.
Peyton Rich tied the game in the fourth, 4-4, with a sacrifice fly that brought
Dominic Cavacini in to score.
The Monarchs went in front, 5-4, later in the inning on a
Zackary Grinde RBI but the Bears bounced back with a ninth inning solo home run to send the game tied, 5-5, into the home half of the frame.
In the bottom of the ninth, Grinde and Zito reached base to set the table for Miller who connected on the game-winning hit to send the Monarchs to a 1-0 series lead.
Johnathan Meyette got the start and went six strong, striking out six and holding a hot Bears lineup to two earned runs.
Connor Hayden tossed the final three innings and moved to 4-0 on the season after only allowing one earned and striking out two.
GAME TWO: Macomb 8, Mott 6
The Monarchs saved their best for last in game two as
Brett Leonard capped off an unbelievable ninth inning with a go-ahead grand slam that lifted the Blue & White to an 8-6 victory.
Trailing 6-2 and down to their final three outs, the Monarchs brought two runs across and had the bases loaded with no outs for Leonard who delivered with a massive grand slam. The home run was Leonard's seventh of the season and sixth in the past three weeks as the freshman became a legend in the swing of a bat in the ninth.
Lochlan Stoudt paced the Monarchs with three hits, while
Buster Debol went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Grinde tripled to help give the Monarchs momentum offensively.
Brendan Przybycki moved to 6-3 on the season after earning the win while
Connor O'Neil secured save No. 3 with a strong ninth inning.
