Baseball rallies for game one win, drops game two to Becker
Auburndale, Fl- The MCLA Baseball team rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh in game one to earn a 5-4 comeback victory against Becker College. The Hawks responded in game two with a convincing 12-0 victory in game two to earn the split. The games were the season opener for Becker while MCLA is now 1-2 on the season.
In the opener, Trailblazer starter Matt Clark danced around trouble all morning long. Becker scored a pair of runs in the second and fourth innings to stake to an early 4-0 lead. Clark allowed only two hits, but walked six Hawks in giving up the four runs. MCLA freshman Eamonn Andre relieved in the fifth when MCLA began to rally.
With the bases loaded, Chase Preite walked to bring in a run and Rory Slattery's base hit brought in another. Becker's Tony Cantalupo would escape further damage inducing a groundout to end the inning with his team still leading 4-2. The score would remain that way until the bottom of the seventh.
MCLA's Mike Mancivalano started the rally with a bunt single. After a flyout, Preite singled to move Mancivalano to third base bringing Slattery to the plate. He lined a triple into the right field corner scoring both runners to tie the score. Following an intentional walk to Garrett Alibozek, Tyler Benoit brought home Slatttery with a sacrifice fly to right to earn the walk off win.
Andre earned the win tossing the final three innings. He collected a pair of strikeouts. MCLA outhit Becker 11-6 in the opener. Mancivalano had two hits while Slattery ended with three safeties and three RBI.
In game two, Becker quickly took charge in the bottom half of the first inning plating five runs off Trailblazer starter Benoit. They chased him just three batters later in the bottom of the second as the lead grew to 7-0. The MCLA defense broke down with three errors in the third as Becker expanded their lead to 12-0 in effect putting the game away.
From there, the story was Becker starting pitcher Keon Jenkins. The righty was mowing down the Trailblazers as he took a no hitter into the seventh. He recorded the first two outs before MCLA's Ryan Ouimet knocked a two out single to left to end the no hit bid. Jenkins would then record his fifth strikeout of the day to seal the shutout win.
Becker tallied nine hits in the rout.
MCLA is back in action tomorrow when they take on Rhode Island College at 9:30am at Chain of Lakes park.