By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Monroe Community College Baseball put three consecutive runners aboard in the ninth inning, but a two-out rally fell short as the host Tribunes lost to UConn-Avery Point 11-7, Saturday in the decisive Game 2 of the best-of-three NJCAA East District playoff.
With the loss, Monroe’s season comes to an end.
Connor Sackett (Rochester, N.Y./Fairport High) walked and scored on a CJ Phelps (Rochester, N.Y./McQuaid Jesuit) double. Lucas Brown (Toronto, ON/Humberside Collegiate Institute) walked, but the tying was left in the on-deck circle.
“Guys battled all day Friday, all day Saturday,” Monroe CC head coach Dave Brust said. “It was impressive to see their level of intensity and that they grew into true competitors. Ultimately, that’s the goal, to see guys compete.”
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM JOE TERRITO.
MCC had leads of 2-0 and 3-2 in the early innings only to fall victim for the second consecutive day to a two-out rally.
UCAP scored five runs in the second inning to take a 7-3 lead. All of the runs were scored with two outs. Jaden Echevarria’s thee-run home run did the most damage for the Pointers.
Avery Point scored two runs without virtue of a hit in the fifth to take a 9-4 lead.
Brown tripled with one out in the sixth and scored on a Patrick May (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) double. Dylan Wanat (Buffalo, N.Y./Williamsville North) connected on a two-out RBI single to make it a 9-6 game. Ryan Stewart (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn High) singled, and Connor Kiefer (Buffalo, N.Y./City Honors) walked, but the Tribs did not take further advantage.
May reached on an error to lead the first inning and scored on a Bowens triple. Stewart brought home Monroe’s second run with a base hit.
Sackett singled and stole second to start the second. Phelps put runners on the corners with a hit. Brown executed a squeeze bunt to bring in Sackett for a 3-2 Monroe lead.
Lucas Brown and Connor Sackett execute a squeeze. @MCCTribunes 3-2 with no outs in the top of the second. pic.twitter.com/vfZrvZZEJX
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 13, 2023
Brown finished 3-for-4 on the day with a walk. Phelps and Stewart both went 2-for-4. Wanat was 2-for-5 while Avery Bowens (Rochester, N.Y./Eastridge) tripled, drove in two runs and scored once in the game. Sackett singled and scored twice in the game.
Avery Bowens brings home CJ Phelps with a sacrifice fly. UCAP 7 Monroe CC 4 pic.twitter.com/lLODwgAZHL
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 13, 2023
UCAP used a five-run third, an inning in which the Pointers connected for one hit, in Friday’s 13-10 defeat of Monroe. All five of the runs came with two outs as Avery Point sent eight batters to the plate with two outs in the inning.
MCC pitchers issued eight walks and hit three batters while the Tribune defense committed three errors in Saturday’s series-clinching loss. This coming after the Game 1 defeat with Monroe handing out 15 free passes (9 BB, 3 HBP and 3 E).
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