Rachiele makes history, Baseball swept in season ending doubleheader against Salem State
NORTH ADAMS, Mass.—MCLA's Austin Rachiele's league leading 14th homerun would set a new single season program record for total bases, and tie the single season hit mark, but the Trailblazers were swept today in their final games against Salem State. The Vikings pulled away in the opener to take it 9-2 and won a hard-fought 3-1 decision in game two. With the results Salem State ends its season with at 11-26 (8-13 MASCAC) while MCLA finishes with a record of 10-28 (3-18 MASCAC).
Game One Salem State 9 MCLA 2
Salem State's Owen Duggan (2-for-3, 5 RBI) opened the scoring in the top of the 3rd with a bases loaded double to right-center field putting the Vikings up 3-0. MCLA would get one back in the bottom of the 4th as a Noel Medina (1-for-4, RBI) base hit scored Clarence Givhans (2-for-4) from second to make it 3-1 Vikings after four.
Another RBI base hit by Duggan in the top of the 5th and four more in the top the 6th aided by a pair of errors pushed the Vikings lead to 8-1.
Solo homeruns by Salem's Connor Dolan (2-for-4, HR, RBI) in the top of the 7th and MCLA's Austin Rachiele (1-for-3, HR, RBI) in the home half, which gave the senior the single-season total bases program record with 127, and tied the single-season hit mark, made the final 9-2.
Salem State starting pitcher Brock Pare (W, 2-4) allowed only one run scattering six hits, striking out five batters in six innings to earn the win. MCLA starter Bryan Rosario (L, 4-7) took the loss allowing 8 runs (four earned) on nine hits, striking out two in 5.1 innings.
Game Two Salem State 3 MCLA 1
Already up 1-0, a Brahiam Ortega (1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI) two-run homer in the bottom of the 1st would give Salem an early 3-0 advantage which would prove to be all they needed. MCLA got on the board in the bottom of the 4th when Givhans (2-for-3), who stole second and advanced to third on the throw, scored on a Medina (1-for-3, RBI) groundout to make it 3-1.
The Trailblazers would get the go-ahead run to the plate in the bottom of the 7th but the Vikings held fast and closed out the game and the season with a 3-1 victory.
Jack Sefrino (W, 1-4) earned his first win of the year with a one-run, three-hit complete game performance for Salem State. Matt Belfance (L, 0-3) took the loss for MCLA pitching four innings, allowing 3 runs on three hits.