Allen Hurls Complete Game to Cap Opening Week for MCC Nine

MYRTLE BEACH, SC - Zach Allen (Greece, N.Y./McQuaid Jesuit) struck out three and walked one in a complete-game effort as Monroe Community College closed its opening week in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with an 8-1 victory over St. Clair Community College (MI).

Allen allowed six hits, one for extra bases, in his first collegiate outing. The right-hander worked to 28 batters and recorded five scoreless frames to open the game. He retired eight of the first nine faced - six via groundball outs and one sent back to the dugout on strikes.

Dylan Wanat (Buffalo, N.Y./Williamsville North) finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored to pace the offense. The sophomore outfielder plated two with a one-out triple to highlight a five-run second as the Tribunes grabbed a commanding lead.

Leading 1-0, CJ Phelps (Rochester, N.Y./McQuaid Jesuit) started the decisive frame with his first of two hits in the game. One out later, Ryan Stewart (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn) reached on a walk, and Joe Grzeskowiak (Henrietta, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta) started the scoring with a two-run double.

Connor Kiefer (Buffalo, N.Y./City Honors) put runners on second and third with a two-bagger of his own, and Wanat delivered from there.

Tobey Wright (Henrietta, N.Y./Rush-Henrietta) capped the inning with an RBI sacrifice fly.

Avery Bowens (Rochester, N.Y./Eastridge) went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk in the win. Patrick May (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) singled and drove in a run. Alex Simons (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) walked and scored a run.

Wright finished the first six games of the season with team-high seven hits. The freshman infielder was 2-for-3 in a season-opening loss (11-1) to Olney Central College (ILL). He followed with a 3-for-4 effort and scored once as Monroe dropped the nightcap Olney, 5-3.

Phelps singled, walked and drove in a run in the Game 2 loss to Olney. Kiefer scored a run and drove in another. Bowens had a base hit and crossed home plate to round out the scoring. May singled and walked. Lucas Brown (Toronto, ON/Humberside Collegiate Institute) was 1-for-2.

Christian Blatter (Rochester, N.Y./McQuaid Jesuit) made his first of three scoreless relief appearances for the week. The submarine-throwing right-hander faced eight batters over two innings of work. Blatter did not allow a hit nor issue over four innings of work in the week. He struck out one.

Wright also had two hits in four at-bats in a 10-6 loss to Henry Ford College (MI). He singled and scored in a four-run first when the Tribunes sent nine to the plate.

Kiefer and Wanat led the stanza with back-to-back base hits before Wright loaded the sacks with his single. May brought home two with a double. Connor Sackett (Rochester, N.Y./Fairport) added to the total with an RBI-groundout. Simons made it a 4-0 game with a run-scoring single.

Kiefer walked, stole a base and scored on Wanat's single as MCC made it a 6-0 game in the second inning. Wanat, Wright, May and Simons finished with two hits apiece against Henry Ford.

Braden Pumputis (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) and Aaron Rutherford (London, ON/London South Collegiate Institute) hurled three scoreless innings of relief apiece in an 11-5 loss to Northampton Community College (PA).

Pumputis struck out six of the 13 batters he faced and issued a pair of walks. Rutherford faced one over the limit and set down four on strikes without allowing a walk. The right-hander fanned eight in 5.2 innings of work over three appearances for the week.

May and Wanat collected six hits, five RBI and three stolen bases apiece over the first six games. Wanat scored five runs.

Kiefer had three doubles, six walks as part of a week where he logged an on-base percentage of .522. The sophomore stole seven bases and scored eight runs.

Bowens posted four hits, three walks and two runs scored.

Brown also had four hits. Phelps and Stewart both accounted for three hits.

Will Russotti (Rochester, N.Y./McQuaid Jesuit) struck out six over four innings of work in two appearances.

Lucas Connors (Brampton, ON/Heart Lake) struck out four over 3.2 innings of work.

Monroe (1-5) will host Cayuga Community College for a twin bill on Saturday. First pitch of Game 1 is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Tribune Field.