Last Inning Rally Lifts MCLA Over AMCATS, 8-6

Northborough, Mass.—The Anna Maria College baseball team fell to the visiting Trailblazers of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) by a final score of 8-6 on Thursday afternoon in non-conference action. The loss drops the AMCATS to 7-22 overall this season while MCLA improves their record to 7-9.

AMCAT LEADERS

Sophomore Matt Elliot (Attleboro, Mass.) led the AMCATS with a three run homerun in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the game at 6-6. Trevor Brown (Gardner, Mass.) went two-for-five at the plate with two RBIs.

Matt Leahey (Rutland, Mass.) took the loss for the AMCATS pitching five innings and scattering four hits, five runs (two earned) and two strikeouts. Freshman, Edel Abad (Miami, Fla.) came in to pitch four innings with three hits and three runs, two of them earned.

TRAILBLAZER LEADERS

Seven different players recorded hits en route to the visitor's 8-6 victory over the AMCATS.  Joe DiMassimo and Brett LeBonte both went one-for-five with two RBIs each.

Brody Farnum pitched six innings for the Trailblazers scattering seven hits, three runs (three earned) and three strikeouts. It was Brendan Kelly who earned the win after the AMCATS tied it up in the eighth inning, pitching one inning and allowing one hit and two runs while posting two strikeouts. Schuyler Robinson earned the save for the visitors as he came in to pitch the final inning and recorded one strikeout.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The game remained scoreless through the first two innings, but it was the Trailblazers who got things started in the top of the third inning. After two walks, Dimassimo popped up to shortstop, but due to strong sunlight the play could not be made and the error resulted in two runs scored (2-0).

Anna Maria was able to earn one run back in the bottom of the inning. Joseph Fahey (Auburn, Mass.) started things up reaching base on a bunt to the third base side and stole second base to put himself into scoring position. Elliot flied out to center field which advanced Fahey to third and a deep triple to center field from Trevor Brown scored Fahey (2-1).

MCLA extended their lead with one more run in the top of the fourth inning as Nick DiSanti notched an RBI double (3-1). A one, two, three bottom of the third led to a two-run top of the fifth inning for the Trailblazers. LeBonte drove the ball over AMCAT center fielder's head to score DiMassimo and ultimately scored on a passed ball to pull ahead 5-1.

The AMCATS crept back with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Phillip Antonucci IV (Revere, Mass.) doubled to right center field and Trevor Brown put the ball into play with a single to right center to score Antonucci (5-2). MCLA and Anna Maria traded runs in the sixth inning and the Trailblazers held onto their three run lead (6-3).

The AMCATS came to life in the bottom of the eighth inning as Elliot launched a three-run homerun off the scoreboard in right field. He scored Fahey, Tanner Jakola (Leominster, Mass.), and himself to tie the game at 6-6.

The Trailblazers rallied on in the ninth inning for two more runs to take the ultimate 8-6 victory.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Anna Maria travels to Suffolk University on Saturday, April 15 for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m. MCLA travels to Fitchburg State University for a double header beginning at 2:00 p.m.