MCLA victorious over Ramapo in season opener

Auburndale, Fl- MCLA opened the 2010 baseball season with a 9-6 win over Ramapo College in the RussMatt invitational.  The game was the opener for both programs.  MCLA is 1-0 and will next play St. Norbert's College on Tuesday.  Junior RHP Sean Hermance (Elizaville, NY) earned his first win in an MCLA uniform while junior left fielder Joe Parillo (West Springfield, MA) was perfect at the plate going 3-3 with a pair of doubles and three RBI.

The Trailblazers trailed 2-0 heading into the bottom of the third when junior Eddie George (Falls Church, VA) and John Ripepi (Amsterdam, NY) both had RBI singles.  Ramapo would regain the edge by pushing across a run in the fifth before MCLA took the lead for good in the bottom half.

The Trailblazers tallied three runs, all with 2 outs, in the inning fueled by Parillo's double which drove in a pair.  Junior first baseman Bobby Beauchesne (Lowell, MA) blooped an RBI single making the score 5-3 after 5.

Ramapo would mount a rally in seventh tacking on a run and threatening for more, but winning pitcher Hermance induced an inning ending 4-6-3 double play.

MCLA would essentially put the game away with a single tally in the seventh before pushing three more across in the eighth.  Brenden Wyand (Pittsfield, MA) had an RBI single while Parillo added another run scoring double. 

George joined Parillo with three hits on the afternoon adding a stolen base as well.  Ripepi finished with a pair.

Hermance earned the win in relief of starter James Greeley.  Greeley went the first four before Hermance threw the middle three innings.  Sophomore Daniel Gaines (Holyoke, MA) earned the save tossing the last two.

MCLA will play St. Norbert College on Tuesday at 2:30pm