Three comebacks net MCC 8-8 tie with Monroe College
FISHKILL, NY – Peter Burgio (Bolton) drove in Alan Fredriksson (Torrington) with MCC’s eighth run and Tyler Wenz (Ogdensburg, NJ) wiggled out of a bases loaded, one-out situation in the ninth to preserve an 8-8 tie with Monroe College Tuesday afternoon. The game was called after 10 innings due to darkness at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, NY.
Nick Melino (Cromwell) had a pair of two-out, two-run singles for the Cougars (6-5-1) and was 3 for 5 with two runs scored. Burgio is 9 for 13 with three doubles, six runs scored, five RBI and stolen base over his last four games.
MCC starter Ryan Carroll (Newington) spotted Monroe a pair of runs in the first inning before retiring nine straight. Carroll left with a 5-2 deficit after five innings, throwing 80 pitches with five strikeouts and one walk.
“This is the type of game where we have to produce runs and play from behind a bit, and we did,” MCC Head Coach Chris Strahowski said. “It’s the first time we’ve done it all year, so it’s a step in the right direction.”
Melino came to the rescue twice, driving in a pair in the fourth with two-out single to tie the game at 2-2, then tore off a carbon copy in the sixth to bring the Cougars to within one run. Moments later, Melino scored on Dave Alexander’s (Torrington) first of two rbi singles to tie the game at 5-all.
Monroe, the NJCAA Region XV Division defending champions, took its third lead of the game with three runs in the bottom of the seventh but MCC bounced back with a pair in the eighth, which was started by a Burgio walk to lead off the inning. Burgio’s game tying single was carved into left field with two outs.
“We saw some very good pitching today and we put some good swings on the ball and we are in good shape,” Strahowski said. “The next few days will definitely tell the story.” MCC travels to Brentwood, NY on Wednesday to play Suffolk County CC – Grant and to Willimantic on Thursday to play Eastern Connecticut’s sub-varsity team.
The defensive play of the game was provided by Fredriksson, who went into the shortstop hole to rob Monroe’s Matthew Beauchesne of a hit leading off the bottom of the fourth. Fredriksson was also part of a nice 4-6-3 DP in the bottom of the second with Juan Bisono (New Britain) and James McGowan (South Windsor).
Kevin Wodatch (Wallingford) worked the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, giving up three runs (two earned) but struck out the last two batters he faced before turning the game over to Wenz. Monroe’s Richard Melendez led off the bottom of the ninth with a double and Strahowski elected to walk the bases loaded after Wenz retired Mario Moreno, moving Melendez to third. Wenz induced a popup to short and a strikeout to end the threat.
Four Monroe pitchers combined for 17 strikeouts.
Manchester Community College 8 Monroe College 8
at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, NY
Manchester CC (6-5-1) 000 203 021 0 — 8 11 1
Monroe College (10-6-1) 200 030 300 0 — 8 12 3
MCC: Ryan Caroll, Kevin Wodatch (6), Tyler Wenz (9) and A. J. Lowers Mon: Vincent Fiore , Xavier Alvardo (6), Patrick Cassidy (6), Omar Hernandez (8) and Rolando Bello WP: none LP: none; Records: M: 6-5-1, M:10-6-1 time of game: 3:15
