Baseball Rallies for Road Split

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Monroe Community College Baseball (12-19) needed just four hits, two of which came in a three-run first, to grab an early lead in a 5-3 Game 2 victory over host Erie Community College on Thursday.

Dylan Wanat (Buffalo, N.Y./Williamsville North) plated Joe Grzeskowiak (Henrietta, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta) with a base hit to give the Tribunes a lead they did not surrender.

Grzeskowiak led the game with a single and stole second base. Avery Bowens (Rochester, N.Y./Eastridge) reached on a dropped third strike to put runners on the corners, and Wanat delivered with an RBI.

The pair executed a double steal with Bowens scoring on an error. Wanat came home on a Connor Kiefer (Buffalo, N.Y./City Honors) RBI groundout.

Ian McNabb (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) started and allowed two runs on three hits and two walks over three innings of work to pick up the victory. The left-hander struck out three and improved to 3-1 on the season.

Matthew Salina (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) hurled 2.2 scoreless innings of relief. The right-hander struck out three, walked two and allowed two hits.

Patrick Sherron (Henrietta, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta) closed out the win with two strike outs over an inning and a third of work. Sherron allowed one run on a walk and two hits.

Alex Simons (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) walked and scored on a Bowens sacrifice fly in the second.

Will Russotti (Rochester, N.Y./McQuaid Jesuit) walked and scored in the sixth.

Patrick May (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) finished 2-for-3 in the win.

Ryan Stewart (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn High) hurled 2.2 scoreless innings of relief in Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader, but it wasn't enough as the Tribunes dropped a 4-1 decision. Stewart struck out two and retired all eight of the batters he faced. The right-hander allowed one ball out of the infield.

Wanat singled to lead the seventh, stole second, moved to third on a CJ Phelps (Rochester, N.Y./McQuaid Jesuit) ground ball and scored on Kiefer groundout.

Kiefer also doubled in Game 1. Simons went 1-for-3.

Monroe hits the road for a pair of doubleheaders on Monday and Tuesday. The Tribunes will take on SUNY Adirondack to open the week and Mohawk Valley CC on Tuesday.

MCC returns home on Friday to face Genesee Community College.

PHOTO CAPTION:  Ryan Stewart retired all eight batters over 2.2 scoreless innings of relief in Game 1.