MCLA Baseball sweeps Hamilton 13-1 and 3-2

Winter Haven, Fl- The MCLA Baseball team received a pair of solid outings on the mound en route to sweeping Hamilton College by scores of 13-1 and 3-2 this afternoon.  The Trailblazers are now 4-3 on the trip.  The games were the season openers for Hamilton.

In game one, MCLA used an eight run outburst in the fourth inning to jump out to a commanding 13-1 lead.  Paul Procopio delivered the big hit with a two run double.  John Ripepi and Joe Parillo added RBI singles in the frame as well.  MCLA was the beneficiary of six walks from Hamilton pitching.

MCLA's Sean Hermance went five innings to earn the complete game victory in a game that was called due to the mercy rule.  Hermance limited Hamilton to a pair of hits while striking out six.

Game two was a much tighter affair as Trailblazer Daniel Gaines and Hamilton's Kevin Prindle were matching each other pitch for pitch.  Hamilton scratched across a run in the second on a sacrifice fly to take an early 1-0 lead, but MCLA would answer with the equalizer in the top of the third tying the game at 1-1. 

MCLA would plate two keys run, including the eventual game winners in the fourth.  After Bobby Beauchesne and Zach Theulen led off with singles, Mike Meaney executed a sacrifice bunt putting runners at 2nd and 3rd.  Joe Duncan responded with a clutch two RBI double giving MCLA a 3-1 lead.  The Continentals would get to Gaines for a run in the fourth closing the gap to 3-2 but could not score the tying run.

Trailblazer Mike Bullett threw a pair of scoreless frames to earn the save.  The freshman righty struck out the side in the 7th to preserve the win.

MCLA returns to action on Friday when the face UMass-Dartmouth in a double header at 3pm.