Baseball squanders lead late in 10-9 extra inning loss to Springfield
North Adams, MA- Visiting Springfield College rallied from a three run deficit in the eighth inning and scored the eventual game winner in the tenth as they defeated the MCLA Trailblazers 10-9 this afternoon in non league action at the Zavattaro athletics complex. The Pride end their season at 12-21-1 while MCLA is now 4-21 heading into a MASCAC doubleheader with Westfield State.
MCLA led by three runs on two occasions, the last of which was 9-6 in the eighth before SC rallied. Springfield scored all three runs after the first two hitters were retired by Trailblazer reliever Robert Jutras. An error, a single, and a walk then loaded the bases with two outs before Jutras got Colin King swinging, however the ball got by the catcher allowing a run to score and the inning to continue.
Another infield miscue allowed a pair of runs to come across tying the game at 9-9 and eventually sending it to extra innings.
In the tenth, Springfield once again scored with two outs and nobody on base. Patrick Coen walked and when King singled it put runners on first and second bringing Billy Peterson to the plate. He would single up the middle plating Coen with the winning run. MCLA would threaten in the bottom half when Antonio Archina got to second base with two outs, however Pride reliever Tyler Kelly got pinch hitter Brett LaBonte to fly out to left ending the game.
Early on, both teams showed signs of creating big innings on offense. Springfield plated three runs in the third to take a 3-1 lead with Corey Wilcox plating two runs with a single to center. MCLA would answer quickly scoring four times in the bottom of the frame to take a 5-3 lead. Ryan Shook and Archina each drove in runs in the frame while a Pride error led to another.
After MCLA added another run in the fifth to make it 6-3, Springfield would answer with three runs on a pair of hits and an MCLA error to once again tie the game at 6-6. The Trailblazers would respond once again with three runs on four hits in the bottom of the inning to seemingly take control at 9-6. Bill Pulasky had the key knock with a two run single down the left field line which set up the Springfield rally in the eighth.
Springfield was paced offensively by King's 4-6 showing. Coen also had a solid day going 2-3 and scoring three times. Peterson also had a pair of hits. Jack Baldwin started off the mound for Springfield going the first 6.1 innings and allowing 13 hits and 9 earned runs. Tyler Kelly earned the win tossing an impressive 3.2 innings to notch the win and improve to 2-2 on the season. He allowed just one hit and struck out two batters.
Archina led MCLA with a career best 4-5 day. Shook kept his hot streak going collecting three hits, driving in two and scoring twice. Nate Alibozek and Nate Gutmann each had a pair of hits as well in the loss.
Alibozek, the last of four Trailblazer pitchers, took the loss going one inning. Frank Rickus started for MCLA and went a season long 5.1 innings allowing 8 hits.