Tribs take two from Mercyhurst

ROCHESTER - The MCC baseball team swept Mercyhurst North East in the first games played by the Tribunes on their sparkling new diamond.

Scores were 8-3 and 12-3 in favor of Monroe, which improved to 10-6 on the season. The games do not count toward either team's regional record for the season.

The Tribunes jumped out to a 5-0 lead and added some late insurance runs to take the opener. Danny Mendick (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon) got things started with a two-run triple in the bottom of the second. MCC tacked on three more in the third, highlighted by an RBI single from Angel Diaz (Humacao, PR/Geneva).

The Saints responded with three in the top of the fourth to cut the lead to two. MCC then added a single run in the fifth as Diaz drew a bases-loaded walk. The Tribs then put the game away with a pair of runs in the sixth.

Vinny Bomasuto (Dunkirk, NY/Dunkirk) led off with a triple and Spencer Scorza (Penfield, NY/Penfield) followed with a deep double off the wall near center field. Scorza later scored on a double play grounder.

Zack Melino (Rochester, NY/Gates Chili) went 4 1/3 innings to get the win, allowing four hits and striking out two. Dylan Sheffer (Penfield, NY/Penfield) came out to toss 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. 

Mendick finished with two hits and three RBIs, and Jalen Dennis (Rochester, NY/Aquinas) was 3-for-3 with a run scored.

The Tribunes then used a seven-run second inning to take control in the nightcap. Diaz had a two-run double and Angel Rosario (Bridgeport, CT/Bullard Havnes) a two-run single to highlight the inning.

That was more than enough for pitchers Nick DiBenedetto (Nanute, NY/Nanuet) and Steve Trubia (Chili, NY/Aquinas). DiBenedetto went the first 4 2/3, allowing two earned runs to get the win. Trubia came on to strike out four over 2 1/3 scoreless frames to close things out.

Bomasuto was 3-for-4 and finished a home run short of the cycle, scoring three runs and driving in two. Scorza was also 3-for-4 with a home run and two runs batted in. Diaz chipped in with two hits and three runs driven in.