MCLA and Elms split Sunday double-header
From Elms College Sport Information
HOLYOKE, MA, April 26, 2009- Sophomore second
baseman Hector Roche (Bronx, NY) went two for three and had two RBI
as Elms College defeated MCLA 5-3 in the nightcap of a
non-conference baseball doubleheader Sunday at MacKenzie
Stadium.
MCLA, which won the first game 15-7, moved to 19-13 on the season.
Elms College, meanwhile, moved to 16-16.
The Blazers, who return to non-conference play at WPI on Tuesday,
April 28 at 4:00 p.m., await seedings for next weekend’s
inaugural four-team, double-elimination New England Collegiate
Conference (NECC) Tournament. That announcement is expected from
the conference office on Monday, April 27.
In Sunday’s doubleheader, the Blazers jumped out to an early
2-0 lead in the second inning. Junior right fielder Justin
Jacobs (Springhill, FL) began the frame for the Blazers with a
lead-off single up the middle. Freshman right fielder Zach
Cerra (South Windsor, CT) followed by ripping a triple to right
field to put the Blazers ahead 1-0. An RBI ground out by
Roche extended the lead to 2-0.
MCLA answered in the third inning with a rally in the top of the
third inning. Senior second baseman Anthony Russo (Marcy, NY)
drew a one out walk. He would then steal second base and
advance to third on a base hit by sophomore shortstop John Ripepi
(Amsterdam, NY). With two outs in the inning, the
Trailblazers plated their first run of the game on a base hit by
sophomore third baseman Paul Procopio (Pittsfield, MA).
Trailing 2-1 in the top of the fifth inning MCLA put together
their second rally in three innings. With two outs in the
frame Ripepi singled to right field, and stole second base.
Senior left fielder Matt Burke (Middleboro, MA) would continue the
frame by drawing a walk, and Procopio would follow suit by also
drawing a walk. With the bases loaded, sophomore designated
hitter Joe Parillo (West Springfield, MA) singled to right field to
plate two runs, and give the Trailblazers a 3-2 lead.
Elms College would respond to their first deficit of the contest
by opening up the home half of the sixth inning with three
consecutive singles. Jacobs tied the game at 3-3 on a
sacrifice fly to right field. With runners on second and
third and one out Cerra hit a sacrifice fly to center field which
would plate the go ahead run as the Blazers took a 4-3 lead.
An infield single by Roche put Elms College ahead for good 5-3.
In the win, Elms College freshman pitcher Craig Hippert (South
Barre, MA) received his second win of the season, while senior
closer Joe Esile (Milford, CT) picked up his fourth save as Elms
College improved to 16-16 on the season.
In the loss, MCLA freshman starting pitcher Rick Massey
(Pittsfield, MA) pitched a complete game allowing five runs on
eight hits, and struck out two.
MCLA plated 13 runs over the first four innings in the first half
of the double dip on route to a 15-7 win.
In the fourth inning, with the Trailblazers already ahead 5-0,
MCLA plated five runs before recording an out. The big blasts
came off the bats of Parillo and junior second baseman Tim Burns
(Pittsfield, MA) who each had a RBI double to increase MCLA’s
lead to 8-0. With the Trailblazers leading 10-0, Burns would
pick up his second double of the inning plating three runs and
putting MCLA ahead 13-0.
In the win, MCLA freshman starting pitcher Brenden Wyand
(Pittsfield, MA) pitched five innings only allowing three runs on
four hits while striking out two.