By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Sean Flannery (Wayne) and Sam Loew (Binghamton) plated two runs apiece in a five-run sixth as the Monroe Community College baseball team came from behind to down Northampton Community College, 8-4 in game two of an NJCAA doubleheader Saturday at Tribune Field.
Trailing 4-3, Evan Magill (Notre Dame Catholic/Ajax, ON) led the stanza with a double to left center and moved to third on a Ryan Hill (Webster Thomas) sacrifice bunt. Jose Ramos (Poinciana/Kissimmee, FL) knotted the game with a triple to left center.
After Cas Sobaszek (Rush-Henrietta) walked and stole second, Flannery brought in the go-ahead runs with a single through the left side of the infield. Phil Ferranti (Webster Schroeder) and Logan Martella-Tasick (Penfield) followed with back-to-back walks, and Loew added the insurance runs.
“Sam played great defense and swung the bat well today,” Monroe head coach Dave Brust said. “He had a great day overall. His defense along probably saved us a run or two in game one with just his steadiness. His at-bats were really good. He’s really turned into a good RBI guy.”
Dylan Clark (Milton District/Milton, ON) hurled six complete innings for his first win of the season. The right-hander allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits, a walk and one hit batter.
“He pitched an exceptional game,” Brust said of the starter. “He did not panic when he got hit around a little bit. He had an unearned run go against him, but he didn’t collapse.”
Clark struck out three, induced a pair of double plays and retired the last seven batters he faced.
“That was really good to see him come out and grind, stick to the plan, pitch ahead,” Brust noted. “He threw his change-up well to the left-handed hitters. He put the ball in play and let the defense work.”
Magill finished 3-for-4 with three doubles and two runs scored.
“When he hits, a lot of good things happen,” Brust noted. “He’s definitely a spark plug for our offense.”
Monroe grabbed an early lead when TJ Lucey (Fairport) started the second with a single up the middle. Magill followed with a two-bagger. Hill loaded the bases when he was hit by a pitch, and Ramos brought in a run with a sacrifice fly.
Sobaszek gave the Tribunes a 2-1 lead with an RBI fielder’s choice. Flannery made it a 3-1 game with a base hit to left field.
“That’s a big win for us,” Brust of the Spartans (19-4) who came into the afternoon with 36 home runs on the season. “Northampton’s a well-coached team. Their numbers are astronomical.”
Ferranti and Loew staked MCC to 2-0 lead in the first inning of game one, but the Tribunes could not hold on in a 7-2 loss.
“This team bounces back,” Brust commented. “If we could just figure that out in the first game. We got out of the gate well in the first inning and couldn’t keep it going.”
Ferranti doubled home Ethan Pasco (Saint Paul Catholic/Niagara Falls, ON) and scored on Loew’s base hit.
Maximo Fernandez (A. Philip Randolph/Bronx, N.Y.) held Northampton (19-4) in check for three innings before the Spartans struck for three runs in the fourth and three more in fifth highlighted by a CJ Peechatka three-run home run.
Northampton starter Alex Super went the distance for the win. The right-hander set down 18 of the last 19 batters he faced and did not surrender a walk in the outing.
The two teams will meet Sunday for another doubleheader. An 11 AM first pitch is scheduled at Tribune Field.
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