MCLA drops a pair of games late to Gallaudet 3-2 and 7-6

Winter Haven, Fl- The MCLA Baseball team dropped a pair of games late as they fell to Gallaudet University 3-2 in the opener in eight innings, and 7-6 in the nightcap.  The Trailblazers held leads in the last inning of both games but were unable to hold on for the victory.

With the setbacks, MCLA is now 3-4 on the season.

The opening game was a pitchers duel between MCLA's Daniel Gaines and Gallaudet's Ryan Hastings.  MCLA trailed 1-0 heading into their final at bat as the Bison pushed a run across in the fourth inning.

The Trailblazers rally started when Joe Duncan began the inning with a single.  Ross Miner laid down a bunt moving Duncan to second.  After pinch hitter Chris Koch grounded to third for an out, Duncan broke for third and the throw from the first baseman went wide of the bag allowing the tying run across.  The play would send the game into extra innings.

In the 8th, Jared Gersch led off with a pinch hit double.  After a walk and a failed bunt attempt, Joe Vaverka reached on a error to load the bases.  Rory Slattery's hard hit ball allowed Gersch to score the go ahead run.

Gallaudet would rally however in the bottom half.  Tom Barksdale drew a one out walk.  William Bissell reached on an error, putting runners on first and second.  A potential game ending double play ball resulted in the second error of the inning allowing Barksdale to score the tying run, and putting Bissell on third base.  Casey Hicks followed with the game winning single for the Bison.

Gaines went the entire way throwing 7 and 1/3 innings.  He gave up one earned run while striking out four.  Derek Lescarbeau had a pair of hits for MCLA in the opener.

In the nightcap, MCLA led 3-2 after five innings of play on the heels of Gersch's two RBI single and Slattery scoring on a wild pitch.  Gallaudet would score a pair of runs off Trailblazer starter Rick Massey in the sixth to pull ahead by a run, only to see MCLA answer right back in the bottom half.

Chase Preite belted a one out single and moved to second on a balk. Slattery followed with a double to tie the game.  Pinch hitter Mike Sullivan hit and infield single putting runners at the corners.  Slattery would scamper home on a wild pitch while Sullivan moved into scoring position.  He would come home on a Bison error to give MCLA a 6-4 lead heading into the last inning. 

Gallaudet quickly pushed across three runs to take the lead with the big blow coming on a two run single from Hicks.  MCLA tried to rally in the bottom half by putting runners on first and second, but the Bison induced a force out to end the game.

Cody Weaver took the loss out of the MCLA bullpen.  Slattery would finish with three hits on the afternoon.

MCLA was doomed by leaving 12 runners on base in the nightcap.

The Trailblazers will look to get back on track on Friday when the close the trip with a doubleheader with Gordon at 3pm.