CLERMONT, Fla. - The MCLA Softball team defeated Trinity, 11-6, Friday to earn the first win of head coach Erica Li's career.

 

The Trailblazers lost the night cap to Lawrence, 9-0, to go to 1-5 on their spring trip.

 

MCLA 11, Trinity 6

MCLA had its best effort to date in the opening game against the Bantams. It took the lead in the top of the first on Kaylyn Holliday's RBI double to centerfield and when Morgan Watson doubled her home, MCLA led 2-0. The Bantams got a run in the bottom half to cut the deficit to 2-1.  

 

MCLA then got a solo home run off the bat of McCann Tech graduate Alanza Quinones to make it 3-1 and then Holliday blasted a two run shot in the fourth inning as MCLA extended the lead to 5-1. RBI knocks off the bat of Nevada Nelsen, Julia Parker, Kayla Baker, and Kaitlyn Berghela put the Trailblazers ahead 9-1 in the third inning.

 

Trinity would score single runs in the third and fifth frames to get within 9-3, but MCLA answered again with a Watson single that brought home Holliday and Samantha Feinstein to go up 11-3. The Bantams added three runs in the sixth to stay alive and slice the margin to 11-6, but MCLA starter Watson bore down and keep the Bantams at bay for the remainder and clinch the win for MCLA.

 

Holliday finished 3-for-5 on the afternoon with three runs and three RBIs. Berghela, Watson, and Parker each had two safeties.  Watson earned the win going the distance and scattering 12 hits and striking out 4 Bantams to earn her first win of 2018.

 

Lawrence 9, MCLA 0

The Trailblazers offense went dormant in game two as Lawrence cruised to a five-inning victory.

 

Samantha Feinstein took the loss for MCLA, going 3.1 innings and allowing 12 hits and seven runs (five earned).  Kara Adams came on in relief and tossed the final 1.2 innings.

 

Holliday continued her strong Florida showing with a perfect 2-for-2 showing in the nightcap.

 

BASEBALL

AUBURNDALE, Fla.- Jeff Bink was a perfect 5-for-5 and drove in four runs as the Trailblazers routed the University of Maine-Farmington, 12-3, Friday at Lake Myrtle Park.

 

The Trailblazers end the Florida swing with a record of 6-3 while the Beavers dropped to 3-4.

 

MCLA got on the board with two runs in the opening frame. Bink started his big day with an RBI single scoring Logan Rumbolt (Drury). Bink eventually scored on a wild pitch for a 2-0 lead.

 

MCLA scored a run in the third on Brett LaBonte's RBI knock, and then took control with a four run fourth. Rumbolt singled to left and drove in Joey Buonemani and Bink once again drove in Rumbolt for a 5-1 lead. Bill Pulasky and LaBonte drilled back-to-back doubles, increasing the lead to 7-1 for MCLA starter Brendan Kelly.

 

Kelly cruised thru the first three frames but ran into trouble in the fourth. The Beavers chased him from the game with a pair of runs to trim the margin to 7-3 and bringing Brandon Condon (Mount Greylock) into the game. Condon limited the damage and threw a 1.1 innings of relief.

 

MCLA left no doubt by adding a run in the sixth on Pulasky's RBI single and then put the game away with a four-run seventh. Bink once again had the key hit as his two run single rounded out the scoring.

 

Pulasky ended with a 3-3 day with 2 RBIs.  Rumbolt and LaBonte each had two hits in the win. Condon earned the win for his efforts as he improved to 2-0.