Baseball earns key sweep of Bridgewater 4-1, 1-0 (eight innings)
Bridgewater, MA- The MCLA Baseball team received a complete game from Liam Nolan in game one and then Bobby New and Austin Miller combined on an eight inning shutout as the Trailblazers swept a MASCAC twinbill from Bridgewater State this afternoon at Alumni Park. MCLA and Nolan took game one by a score of 4-1, while New and Miller led a 1-0 win in the nightcap.
The Trailblazers improve to 11-12 on the season, but more importantly even their MASCAC mark to 5-5. BSU drops to 8-18 overall and 1-9 in the conference.
Game One-
Both teams scored a run in the first inning. Brett LaBonte's RBI single scored Jonathon Parker, who had singled earlier in the frame for an early 1-0 lead. The Bears responded with a run in the bottom half on a Matt Levasseur single to tie it up at 1-1.
MCLA would take the lead for keeps in the fourth inning. Myles Candelet scored on a Bridgewater error off the bat of Logan Rumbolt making it 2-1. The Trailblazers would salt it away with a run in the sixth and another in the seventh. Nick DiSanti had an RBI knock in the sixth and LaBonte added an RBI groundout in the seventh.
The rest was up to Nolan. The junior righty was outstanding as he allowed only the first inning run. He scattered five hits and struck out 7 Bears on his way to his first win of the season as he is now 1-4.
Game Two-
This game was pitchers duel as MCLA's New and BSU's Thomas Protentis were both outstanding. New allowed just four hits in his first start of 2017 in six innings of work. He was eventually relieved by Miller after the leadoff batter reached in the seventh. Miller stranded the runner at second base giving the Trailblazers a boost heading into the eighth inning.
Parker would draw a one out walk for MCLA and after another out, he moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. LaBonte drove in his third run of the afternoon with a single to left giving MCLA a 1-0 lead. Miller took care of the rest in the bottom of the inning. He closed the door with a 1-2-3 inning to give MCLA the sweep.
MCLA had trouble getting to Protentis early on, but squandered a golden opportunity in the sixth inning. They loaded the bases with one out, but Protentis got a strikeout and ground out to keep the game scoreless.
Protentis was the tough luck loser going all eight frames and allowing just six hits. He struck out three Trailblazers.
Miller earned the win as he improves to 3-1 on the season after tossing a pair of hitless frames. LaBonte went 2-4 in the nightcap for MCLA.
The Trailblazers will be back in action tomorrow when they head to Westfield State for another doubleheader at 2pm.