New tosses shutout to lead Baseball to opening day split with Anderson
Auburndale, FL- The MCLA Baseball team earned a split on opening day this afternoon against Anderson University. The Trailblazers squandered a three run lead in the final inning of a game one 6-5 setback, but Bobby New tossed a gem in the nightcap as the Trailblazers defeated the Ravens 2-0. MCLA is now 1-1 on the season while Anderson is 6-6 on the season.
Game One- MCLA took a 5-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning, however the Ravens would rally and earn a walk off victory. The Ravens were aided by a pair of seventh inning errors and three Trailblazer wild pitches in the frame. Anderson's Adam Paschal stroked a single up the middle for the game winner. Trailblazer Mark Morel was tabbed with the loss out of the bullpen after relieving starter Liam Nolan.
Nolan was solid in his 2018 debut tossing 6+ innings and allowing 6 hits. He struck out five Ravens.
MCLA got on the board in the second inning when Jeff Bink belted a run scoring triple and then came across on Joe Toledo's sacrifice fly. The Ravens answered in the bottom half with a pair of runs to tie the game.
It would stay that way til the sixth inning. Bill Pulasky's RBI knock gave MCLA the lead and Bink added a two run single to extend the lead to 5-2 before the Ravens rallied. They were aided in the seventh by three wild pitches as the Trailblazer bullpen struggled in relief of Nolan.
Game Two- The story in game two was Bobby New. The left hander was in control the entire game as he went the distance. He allowed just three hits and struck out six Ravens without allowing a walk.
MCLA had trouble figuring out Raven starter Joseph Moran. The Trailblazers finally got to Moran in the fifth inning eventually chasing him from the game. Christian Seariac had the key hit, ripping a two run single that scored Ben Durland and Antonio Archina giving MCLA a 2-0 lead.
The rest was up to New. He cruised home allowing just one hit and a hit batter over the final three frames to secure his first victory of the year.
The Trailblazers are back at it tomorrow challenging Illinois Tech at 9am.