Baseball splits twinbill with Norwich

North Adams, MA- The MCLA Trailblazers and Norwich University Cadets split a twinbill this afternoon at the Zavattaro athletics complex as the Cadets took the opener 3-1, before the Trailblazers earned a 4-2 decision in the nightcap.  MCLA is now 4-25 overall while Norwich closes out their season at 9-20.

MCLA took the nightcap behind a strong performance from Cody Weaver off the mound.  The junior would scatter 8 hits while striking out six.  He allowed both runs, with just one of them earned. 

The Trailblazers were trailing 1-0 entering the fourth inning when they parlayed some small ball into a four run burst.  Ryan Shook led off with a walk and JT Ferraro followed with an infield single.  Nate Alibozek's bunt was misplayed allowing the bases to be loaded for Joe Duncan.  He would drive in a run as he reached on an error.  Jared Gersch followed with a perfectly executed safety squeeze to put MCLA ahead 3-1 and Rory Slattery would drive in the fourth run on a sacrifice fly.

The burst allowed Weaver to cruise until the seventh inning.  After he retired the leadoff hitter, Mike Doyle homered to left field to cut the margin to 4-2.  Norwich would put the tying runs on base, but Weaver buckled down and induced a pair of flyouts to end the threat and secure the win.

MCLA was outhit by the Cadets 8-6 in Game two.  Jacob Muetterties absorbed the loss tossing five innings.

In the opener, the Cadets scored twice off MCLA's Joe Vaverka to set the tone.  The key blow was a double off the bat of Cody Lindell and an RBI single from Bill Whaley.  MCLA would trim the lead to 2-1 on Slattery's base hit in the second inning.

Norwich would add an insurance tally in the sixth as a misplayed bunt put runners on the corners with nobody out.  Lindell's single made it 3-1.  Vaverka avoided further damage by inducing a groundout and thwarting a double steal attempt.

MCLA did put the tying run on base in the seventh, however the Cadets turned a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.

Vaverka was the tough luck loser for MCLA.  He went the distance and struck out 8.  Sam Philbrook earned the win tossing the first six innings and fanning four.  Brian Whaley earned the save by throwing the seventh.

MCLA is back in action on Monday when they travel to Springfield College.