Trailblazers walk off to earn split with MMA
North Adams, MA- The MCLA Trailblazers and Mass. Maritime Academy split a MASCAC twinbill this afternoon as the Bucs took game one 8-0 while the Trailblazers walked off in game two with a 6-5 victory. The Trailblazers are now 9-11 overall and sit at 3-5 in conference play. MMA is now 9-10 and 4-4 in the conference.
Game one-
MMA's Brian Kwedor tossed a complete game for the Buccaneers as they cruised to an easy victory. Kwedor scattered seven hits and struck out three as he improved to 3-2 on the season. He was in trouble in the first inning, but Jake Petruzelli threw out a runner at home and then Kwedor wasn't threatened until the home seventh. MCLA loaded the bases with one out, but Kwedor got a strikeout and groundout to preserve the shutout.
After two scoreless frames to open the contest, MMA posted five runs in the third inning to take control. Casey Furnas doubled to lead off the frame and advanced to third on a passed ball before scoring on a wild pitch for a 1-0 lead. After an out, MMA's Connor Kennedy and Paul Sances singled to put runners on first and second. Kevin Troy then reached on an error loading the bases. Petruzelli walked to force in the second run of the game and Jackson Simone's RBI groundout made it 3-0 MMA. A double steal produced the fourth run for the Buccaneers and Matt Langan's RBI hit rounded out the scoring for the inning.
MMA would tack on two more runs in the fourth inning to jump ahead 7-0. Kennedy had a sac fly scoring Furnas and Sances drove in another for MMA. They would add their final run in the fifth as another passed ball accounted for their final run.
The Bucs had 10 hits in the opener as Kennedy, Sances, and Furnas all had three hits.
MCLA's Bill Pulasky and Myles Candelet each had two hits in the loss.
Game Two-
Both teams took advantage of some wildness from the starting pitchers as it was 3-3 after an inning of play. The Buccaneers got an RBI from Jackson Simone and benefitted from a pair of MCLA miscues for their three runs. MCLA answered with three of their own highlighted by Myles Candelet's two run single.
MCLA added single runs in the second and third innings to take a 5-3 advantage. Joe Toledo drove home Nick DiSanti, who had doubled for one run, while Candelet drove in another run with a single in the third making it 5-3.
The score would stay that way until MMA finally tied it up in the sixth. Paul Sances delivered a two out double to right field scoring Kennedy and Langan tying it 6-6. MCLA went in order in the bottom half and then Maritime put one runner on in the seventh, but couldn't break through setting up MCLA's rally.
With two outs in the seventh, Christian Seariac and Billy Pulasky singled putting runners at the corners and bringing Brett LaBonte to the plate. He grounded to second base, but the ball went through the fielders legs allowing the game winning run to score and giving the teams a split.
Austin Miller picked up the win tossing the final 1.1 innings of hitless ball. Candelet and DiSanti each had two hits to pace the offense.
Jackson Simone took the loss for MMA.
MCLA is back in action on Wednesday when they host Lasell.