Dropping four consecutive games last week, the Macomb High baseball squad was aiming for a much needed victory against Monmouth-Roseville Tuesday afternoon at Phil Bradley Field.
The visiting Titans scored first and last, but the Bombers scored plenty in between in securing a 9-4 non-conference victory.
Macomb improved to 12-7 on the season, while Monmouth-Roseville dropped to 6-11.
“It was definitely a much needed win, coming off a week where we lost a few tough ones,” said MHS coach John Ogle. “It was just nice to get back in the win column, and it’s hopefully a win that we can build off of going (forward).”
The Titans scored three runs in their first at-bat against Macomb starter Jake Ogle.
Keegan Smith walked before advancing to second on a one-out single to center by Landyn Angelo.
Nick Huston followed with a single to left that scored Smith with the game’s first run.
After Ty Moore hit into a fielder’s choice for the second out of the inning, Elijah Noel doubled to center, scoring Moore and Huston, giving Monmouth- Roseville a 3-0 lead.
The Bombers responded by scoring three runs in the bottom half of the inning against Titan starter Andrew Way.
Drew Watson opened the inning by doubling to left. Nick Elbe walked before Jake Ogle was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Kaden Knupp followed with a single to left that scored Watson and Elbe, cutting Macomb’s deficit to 3-2.
Jake Ogle and Knupp moved up one base on a wild pitch before Aiden Reynolds was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jaxon Barclay was then hit by a pitch, forcing home Jake Ogle with the tying run.
Way avoided further damage however by recording a pair of strikeouts and a fly out that ended the inning.
The Bombers grabbed the lead by scoring twice in the bottom of the second.
Elbe doubled to right with one out before Jake Ogle singled to right, advancing Elbe to third. Tyler Schulz entered the game for Jake Ogle as a courtesy runner and advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Knupp was retired on an infield pop up to short for the second out. But Reynolds followed with a single to left that scored Elbe and Schulz, giving the Bombers their first lead of the day at 5-3.
Macomb made it 6-3 in the bottom of the third as Watson’s two-out single scored Drew Taylor.
Blaine Eddington had walked to open the inning before Leighton Lambert hit into a fielder’s choice. Taylor entered for Lambert as a courtesy runner and advanced to second on a sac bunt by Isaac Leinbach before scoring on Watson’s hit.
After a scoreless fourth inning, the Bombers put together three consecutive singles with two outs in the fifth to tally their seventh run of the day.
Leinbach singled to center before Watson followed with a base hit to left, advancing Leinbach to second. Elbe followed with a single to right that scored Leinbach.
Macomb scored its final two runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Reynolds singled with one out before Barclay singled to center advancing Reynolds to second.
Kollin Knupp flew out to right with Reynolds tagging up and moving to third.
With Lambert at the plate, Barclay stole second. Then, on a 2-2 pitch, Lambert doubled to center, scoring Reynolds and Barclay, giving the Bombers a 9-3 lead.
Monmouth-Roseville scored its final run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Noel.
Macomb out-hit Monmouth- Roseville 13-4 with the Bombers also committing four errors.
Watson had three hits, including a double, from his lead-off spot in the batting order. He scored once and knocked in a run.
Elbe, Jake Ogle and Reynolds added two hits apiece. Reynolds, Kaden Knupp and Lambert had two runs batted in apiece.
Elbe also doubled and knocked in a run, scoring twice, while Lambert also doubled. Barclay and Leinbach chipped in a hit and a run scored for MHS.
“After struggling quite a bit at the plate last week, it was great to see the offense come back to life,” said Coach Ogle. “I thought Drew got us going early, putting a double in the gap to lead off the bottom of the first, then we were able to keep things rolling from there.”
“He did a great job setting the table at the top of the lineup,” Coach Ogle added of Watson. “He has been working really hard to figure things out offensively, so it was really nice to see him pick up three hits.”
“Nick, Jake, and Aiden all had good days at the plate as well, each picking up two hits,” he continued. “We needed the top of our lineup to get things going again, and they definitely came through for us.”
Jake Ogle pitched five innings, allowing three earned runs on three hits. He struck out six, walked one and hit two.
Kollin Knupp pitched the final two innings, allowing one earned run on one hit. He struck out two, walked one and hit two batters.
“On the mound, I thought Jake did a nice job of settling into the game,” said Coach Ogle. “He struggled to throw strikes early and then got hit around a little bit in the top of the first, allowing three runs.”
“After the first inning, he was able to give us four scoreless innings. He got into a groove and was able to mix pitches and keep their hitters off balance,” Coach Ogle added. “I really thought he got better as the game went on. Then Kollin came in and was able to give us a couple of solid innings to finish things off.”
Huston had two hits with one run scored and one batted in for MRHS. Noel doubled and knocked in three runs, while Angelo added a hit and a run scored for the Titans.
Moore also scored a run for the visitors.
Way pitched two innings, allowing five earned runs on five hits. He struck out two, walked one and hit three batters.
Cal Casteel pitched four innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits. He struck out two and walked one.
The Bombers were scheduled to return to Prairieland Conference play Thursday, heading to Carthage to face Illini West (15-4, 3-0 Prairieland). MHS is 1-3 in conference play.
On Friday, the Bombers are scheduled to head to East Moline to face United Township (10-10).
Saturday morning, the Bombers will host Bushnell-Prairie City (0-19, 0-4 Prairieland) at Phil Bradley Field.
