Trailblazers Come From Behind to Edge Thoroughbreds
The MCLA Trailblazers baseball team returned to the field for the first time since March 21st, as they captured a 4-3 victory over Skidmore College in their first game up north.
MCLA moves to 7-4 and Skidmore falls to 4-7.
The day started slowly for MCLA as Skidmore scored two off MCLA starter Todd Hunt. Hunt gave up back to back hits after a one-out walk. Jeb Clarke delivered an RBI double scoring Matt Barra and putting runners on second and third with one out. Hunt beared down and limited the Thoroughbreds to just one more in the inning.
Hunt got stronger as the game wore on and only allowed two more base runners through six innings as the game remained 2-0 until the top of the eighth inning.
MCLA finally got to Skidmore starter Nick Petrella. Mike Sullivan led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on an errant throw by Petrella on Chaise Preite's sacrifice attempt. Rory Slattery followed with a RBI single and two outs later a Nate Alibozek infield single brought in Preite tying the game at two and getting Hunt off the hook.
Skidmore pushed back ahead in the bottom of the inning off MCLA reliever Alibozek; again it was Clarke for Skidmore delivering the timely base hit scoring Mat Marino from second base.
MCLA rallied in the ninth once again. The Trailblazers played a little small ball off Skidmore closer Daniel Dasgupta. Mike Mancivalano led off with a walk, was sacrificed to second when Alon Willing reached on another Skidmore throwing error, and was sacrificed to third. Mancivalano would come around on a groundout by Sullivan. MCLA had a chance to go ahead with two on and one out, but Preite fouled out and Slattery struck-out to end the inning.
The game remained tied at 3-3 until the eleventh. The Trailblazers strung had three singles in the inning, the last brought Willing home from second off the bat of Preite.
Things got a little dicey in the bottom of the inning, but Liam Nolan pitched around a one-out double by Clarke and runners stranded on the corners as he got Dan Miller to line-out to second to end the game.
Petrella pitched well for Skidmore, scattering seven hits in eight innings and allowing just one earned run. Joe Warner took the loss for the Thoroughbreds.
Alibozek did a nice job in relief to pick up the win. Alibozek through three innings and allowed a run, Nolan picked up his first save of the year.
Clarke was 3-5 with two doubles and two RBI's in defeat. Sullivan, Preite and Slattery combined to go 8-15, Alibozek also reached base three times.
MCLA will take on Framingham State tomorrow morning in their MASCAC opener at 10:00 in Northborough, MA.