Tribunes Rally for Road Split

Frederick, MD -- One day after slamming three home runs to win a fifth straight game, the Monroe Community College Baseball team needed just two hits to rally for a road split against a nationally-ranked opponent.

Connor Kiefer (Buffalo, N.Y./City Honors) drove in a pair of runs to spark a two-out rally, and the Tribunes (9-8) went on to defeat host Frederick Community College (No. 5 NJCAA DII), 5-3 in Game 2 of a scheduled doubleheader Sunday in Frederick, Maryland.

Trailing 3-0 in the fifth inning, Kiefer broke up a no-hitter to drive in Joe Grzeskowiak (Henrietta, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta) and Lucas Brown (Toronto, ON/Humberside Collegiate Institute).

"The opportunities existed for us," Monroe CC head coach Dave Brust said. "They gave us a couple walks here and there. We took advantage. We had a big hit by Connor Kiefer."

The extra-base hit was the seventh this season including five doubles for the sophomore infielder.

"Connor's been having some really good at-bats. We've been constantly trying to tweak things and fine tune things.  Against a guy who has good stuff, good velo, ultimately, he was the right guy for the job."

Patrick May (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) followed with an RBI single to knot the game at three.

Dylan Wanat (Buffalo, N.Y./Williamsville North) walked. A double steal put runners on second and third for Avery Bowens (Rochester, N.Y./Eastridge) who reached on a dropped third strike. May scored on the play. Wanat took advantage of an ensuing passed ball to make it a 5-3 game.

"We kinda missed some opportunities (earlier in the season) with guys in scoring position. That was something we've talked about as a team. We have to take advantage. They certainly heard the message."

The win came after Monroe dropped a 9-6 decision in Game 1 earlier in the day.

Brust encouraged a different mindset out of his squad for the nightcap.

"We talked about back-yard baseball," Brust said. "That's how we needed to play, free and easy. Play without any reservations. Run the bases free and easy. Swing it free and easy and have no regrets."

May stole two bases in the game along with Wanat and Connor Sackett (Rochester, N.Y./Fairport High) who swiped a bag apiece.

"We were all right once guys got through the fact that we're on the road, and we're playing an outstanding team."

With the win, Monroe snapped Frederick's 15-game win streak. The Cougars (19-4) were an NJCAA DII World Series team a year ago.

"We rose to the occasion," Brust said. "That was great to see. That was a good test."

Chris Goyette (Medina, N.Y./Medina) started and struck out two over two innings of work. Lucas Connors (Brampton, ON/Heart Lake) hurled two innings of relief. Patrick Sherron (Henrietta, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta) made his second appearance out of the bullpen in as many days.

"He was primed to be in a closing role," Brust said of Sherron who made nine starts and logged a team-high 46 innings in 2022. "His ability to be aggressive but not lose control of the strike zone fits the role."

The 5-foot-11 right-hander scattered two hits and a walk over three scoreless innings. On Saturday, Sherron worked two innings in a 12-4 win over Anne Arundel CC.

"He did it once or twice for us last year when we were in a pinch," Brust said of Sherron coming on in relief. "We saw that it kinda fits his personality. He's got a low heart rate and he just comes in and throws a ton of strikes."

Kiefer walked and scored two runs in Monroe's 9-6 loss in Game 1. May singled, walked, drove in a run and scored another. Ryan Stewart (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn High) singled and drove in a run. Brown and Alex Simons (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) singled and scored a run apiece.

Monroe hosts Herkimer College (No. 7 NJCAA DIII) on Tuesday. A 1 p.m. first pitch is scheduled for the first game of a doubleheader.