Morse Goes the Distance as Baseball Opens RussMatt with Split Against Martin Luther College

AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The MCLA Baseball team started their annual Spring Break trip to the RussMatt Invitational this afternoon at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex with a doubleheader against Martin Luther College. Nate Morse threw a complete game six-hitter while Benjamin Jacob went 3-4 with three RBI in the night cap after Chris Vargas and Joshua Bissaillon hit back-to-back homeruns in the first game as MCLA picked up a split over the Knights.

THE BASICS:

• Date: Friday, March 14, 2025
• Game #1: Martin Luther 7, MCLA 5
• Game #2: MCLA 4, Martin Luther 3
• Records: MCLA Trailblazers 1-3 (MASCAC 0-0) | Martin Luther College Knights 3-2 (UMAC 0-0)
• Series History: Martin Luther College leads the all-time series 3-1, after winning both games of a doubleheader last season on March 8^th by scores of 12-7 and 7-6.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Game #1
  • The first game was a back-and-forth affair with the Knights breaking out to an early 2-0 lead with a pair of small ball runs in the first in second innings.
  • MCLA cut the Martin Luther lead to one in the bottom of the second inning with a small ball run of their own. Sophomore catcher Henry Blake (Brookfield, MA) led the inning off by working a walk ahead of being bunted over by freshman shortstop Roshan Warriar (Pittsfield, MA) and moved to third on a productive ground out by senior second baseman Matt Damon (Ancram, NY). Blake then scored an unearned run when the MLC second baseman couldn't handle a ball from sophomore outfielder Clayton Dutfield (Delmar, NY).
  • The Trailblazers took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning on the strength of back-to-back home runs by junior first baseman Chris Vargas (Queens Village, NY) and senior third baseman Joshua Bissaillon (East Greenbush, NY). The rally started with one out when freshman outfielder Benjamin Jacob (Pittsfield, MA) singled to right field before Vargas hit his first homerun of the season on a towering flyball to left centerfield. Bissaillon then followed that up with another shot to left field to put MCLA ahead 4-2.
  • The Knights responded with a three spot of their own in the top of the sixth inning taking advantage of an error, a hit by pitch, and a walk to bring home three runs on one hit. Martin Luther College also added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh.
  • A double to the right field corner by Jacob led off the seventh for the Trailblazers, and he moved on to third on a wild pitch. Two batters later, senior Aidan Brett scored Jacob from third when he reached on an error when the MLC third baseman failed to pick up a lined shot at him.
• Game #2
  • The Knights built an early lead again in the second game behind an RBI double by Carlos Walta and an RBI single by Samuel Rodriguez in the bottom of the first inning.
  • MCLA responded with a three-spot in top of the second. Senior first baseman Matthew Belfance (Saugerties, NY) led off with a walk, and was still there three batters later when sophomore outfielder worked a walk a two-out walk of his own. Belfance then scored on a single to right field by junior outfielder Michael Wormuth (Wynantskill, NY) while Sardo moved to third. Wormuth moved to second when the Knights attempted to pick Sardo off third and caught the defense sleeping. Jacob then lined a single through the left side of the infield to score both Sardo and Wormuth.
  • Jacob was also responsible for providing the Trailblazers with a much needed insurance run in the top of the fourth inning, with an infield single that ate up the Knight's first baseman. Jacob's hit scored senior catcher Josh Bologh (Waterbury, CT) who had led the inning off with a double into the left field corner before moving to third on single by Sardo.
  • Martin Luther cut the MCLA lead to one in the bottom of the fifth behind leadoff double and stolen base by Mark Vogel paired with a sacrifice fly by Carter Seltz.
  • With the lead cut to one, senior starting pitcher Nate Morse (Holyoke, MA) buckled down to protect the lead, allowing only a single in the sixth and setting the side down in order in the seventh. Morse finished with a complete game, striking out three while scattering six hits to even his season record at 1-1.
  • After picking up the save in the first game, the Knights' Aidan Berg went all seven innings in game two, striking out six but falling to 1-1.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The complete game for Morse was the first of the season for the Trailblazers, and the first since Rob Correia went the distance in an 8-4 loss to Framingham State last season.

UP NEXT:

On Saturday, MCLA will be back in action at the RussMatt Invitational a doubleheader against Bard College at the Northeast Regional Park in Davenport, FL. The first game is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. start.

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