NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- The MCLA baseball team dug itself a hole early, but put the tying run in scoring position in the ninth before Williams reliever Kyle Dean earned the save in a 7-5 non-conference win for the Ephs at Joe Wolfe Field.

 

Williams improves to 21-8 overall while MCLA dips to 10-25 on the season.

 

MCLA (10-25) led early after Taconic grauate Austin Rachiele tripled to right field in the first and came around to score the games first run. Williams responded with a run in the second before erupting for four more runs in the third off Trailblazer starter Mike Urbanski.

 

Erik Mini delivered the key blow as he hooked a three-run home run down the right field line to give the visitors a 5-1 lead.  Williams added another in the fifth to increase the lead to 6-1 before the MCLA offense finally woke up.

 

The Trailblazers scored four times in the seventh inning to claw back into the contest. Rachiele delivered a key two out single that brought home two runners slicing the deficit to 6-3.  Christian Seariac's RBI knock added another run and when Jeff Bink's grounder was mishandled, it was 6-5 after seven innings of play.

 

Williams tacked on an insurance run in the ninth off the MCLA bullpen on Doug Schaeffer's single to up the margin to 7-5, which proved important as the Trailblazers wouldn't go quietly.

 

In the ninth, Joe Toledo led off with a single before being lifted for a pinch runner. After a pair of outs, Seariac drew a walk which summoned Dean out of the bullpen for the Ephs. MCLA pinch runner Shawn James and Seariac moved up a base on a double steal as they moved into scoring position, but Dean would strikeout Bink to close the game out and record his fifth save of the season.

 

Williams outhit MCLA 15-8 in the contest. Kellen Hatheway and Schaeffer each had three hits in the win. Tom Benz, Mini, and David Driscoll each ended with two hits apiece.

 

Charlie Carpenter (2-1) earned the win as he tossed two innings of one hit relief.

 

MCLA was paced by Antonio Archina's three hit afternoon. Rachiele ended with a pair of hits and two RBI's.

 

Prior to the first pitch, MCLA honored their seniors in a brief ceremony. The Trailblazers honored Bink, Archina, Brendan Kelly, and Pittsfield High graduate Bobby New.