Baseball wraps up MCLA's return to play weekend against Owls

Westfield, MA-- After just a handful of games in 2020, the pandemic cancelled the remainder of the MCLA baseball schedule.  Over one year later, the Trailblazers have returned to action.

Joining the Men's Lacrosse and Softball programs who also opened this weekend, the Baseball program dropped a pair of non conference tilts to MASCAC foe Westfield State on a beautiful afternoon.  MCLA couldn't figure out the Owl pitching in the opener as they fell 2-0 before suffering an 11-5 setback in the game two.

It was the opener for both teams as Westfield is 2-0 and MCLA is 0-2.

Game One-

The opener was all about the Owl pitching staff as they allowed just three hits to the Trailblazer offense.  Owl starter Shane Bogli went the first six innings and struck out 9 Trailblazers.  He allowed just two hits.  Patrick Jordan tossed the final three frames and earned the save.

The Owls got all the offense they'd need off MCLA starter Ryan Ruef in the first two innings of play.  Sean Moorhouse drove home Casey Boudreau with the games first run in the top of the first for an early 1-0 lead.  In the second inning, Zach Graveline doubled home Damien Maniscalco to make it 2-0.

The MCLA pitchers would settle down and keep the game within reach.  Ruef would go the first four innings allowing three hits and strking out three Owls.  Isaiah Choiniere tossed three scoreless frames in middle relief duty while James Sneyd finished a perfect inning as well.

The Trailblazers did bring the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but ultimately couldn't get the job done as the Owls earned the win.

Game Two-

MCLA wasted little time in the nightcap to get on the board scoring in the top of the first.  Randy Adams scored off an Owl miscue for an early 1-0 advantage.  The Owls would come right back and score three times in the bottom of the frame to grab a 3-1 lead off MCLA starter Bryan Rosario.  

After Westfield tacked on another run in the second to increase the lead to 4-1, MCLA responded with a pair of runs in the third and a solo run in the fourth to tie things up at 4-4.  Diego Rivera and Robert Correia had run scoring singles in the third inning and Adams added another in the fourth to tie the game.

The Owls took the lead for keeps in the fifth with two runs to hold a 6-4 lead.  MCLA sliced the deficit in half on Jake Ferrara's RBI single to make it 6-5.  The Trailblazers wasted a golden opportunity in the sixth when they ran into an out after threatening to tie the game.

Westfield put the game out of reach with three runs in the sixth and two in the eighth to round out the scoring.

MCLA belted out ten hits in the nightcap.  Adams, Ferrara, and Correia each ended with two hits in the contest to lead the offense.  

Isaiah Tucker (0-1) suffered the loss for MCLA.  Rosario went the first four for MCLA allowing four runs.  

The Trailblazers are back in action on Friday when they travel to Fitchburg State.