By Paul Casey Gotham
BATAVIA, NY — Brian Dixon (East Amherst, NY/ St. Joseph’s) paced a 14-hit attack, but the Monroe Community College Tribunes fell in Regional play.
The Mercyhurst NE Saints pushed runs across the plate in four of the first six innings to defeat Monroe 9-5 and set up a rematch Sunday for the Region III Division II Championship.
Mercyhurst scored two in the first and three in third. The Saints added a run in the fifth. Zach Melino (Rochester, NY/ Gates-Chili) entered the game with runners on first and second and no outs. After allowing a RBI single to the first batter he faced, the freshman worked out of the jam to keep the Tribs within striking distance.
The Saints stretched the lead to eight scoring three in the sixth for a 9-1 advantage.
MCC rallied with four in the eighth. Ralph Alloco (Rochester, NY/ McQuaid) sent the first pitch of the inning up the middle. Brad Kaczka (Pittsford, NY/ Sutherland) doubled off the fence in the left field. Dixon plated both with a single down the left field line. Spencer Scorza (Penfield, NY/Penfield) reached on a fielder’s choice, and Frank Poerio (Gibsonia, PA/Hampton) singled. Pat Moore (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas) loaded the bases with a walk, and Bobby Frantz (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas) slapped a single inside the bag at third scoring Scorza and Poeria.
But the Tribs could not take further advantage. MCC left nine runners on base including two each in the sixth, seventh and eighth. A pair of Tribunes were thrown out at the plate.
Dixon finished 4-5 with a double and two RBI.
Poerio had three hits in four trips with two runs scored.
Moore added two hits, a walk and two RBI.
Mercyhurst NE and MCC will square off on Sunday with the Region III title on the line.
First pitch is scheduled for noon on the Genesee Community College campus.
Tyler Wilson (Pittsford, NY/Mendon) gets the ball for the Tribs. Wilson tossed an inning and a third of shutout ball on Friday. He has made 10 appearances for Monroe. Sunday will be Wilson’s fifth start of the season. The right-hander is 3-3.
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