Baseball Wins Both Games of Home Doubleheader
Determined Cougars Sweep Series Against Massasoit
(Holyoke, MA) - Men's baseball won both games of their home doubleheader against Massasoit CC on Saturday, thus sweeping the three-game series against their regional opponent. The first game of the doubleheader was a close one that saw the Cougars come from behind to earn a 9-8 walk-off win after trailing 8-5 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. Game two on Saturday was not so close as Holyoke mercy-ruled their opposition, the game ending 24-4 in the fifth inning. The Cougars won the first meeting between the sides 7-4 on Thursday at Massasoit.
Matt Drobiak (Holyoke, MA / South Hadley HS) was spectacular for the Cougars on Saturday, batting a perfect 7 for 7 with three doubles in the two games. Drobiak drove in six RBIs, three in each contest, and scored five total runs. He was the winning pitcher in game one, moving to the mound in the fifth inning to throw three strikeouts in 1.2 innings pitched. Nathan Kaczuwka (Ware, MA / Ware HS) played brilliantly, hitting a combined 6 for 7 in the doubleheader. He knocked in four RBIs in game two and scored seven total runs over the two games. Zack Oldenburg (Chicopee, MA / Chicopee HS) was 4 for 5 at the plate on Saturday, driving in a remarkable seven RBIs during his five at-bats. Dylan Litherland (Houston, TX / Klein Oak HS) earned the win from the mound in game two of the doubleheader, throwing three strikeouts while pitching the complete game.
Men's baseball has a regional record of 7-8 and an overall record of 9-18. They have won four of their last six games, including the last three in a row. The Cougars have a fighting chance of qualifying for the postseason with three of their six remaining contests being regional games. Holyoke will host Landmark College for a non-regional game on Monday, April 27th at 3:30pm. They will host regional opposition Quinsigamond CC for a doubleheader on Saturday, May 2nd starting at noon. The results of those May 2nd games could determine if Holyoke qualifies for the Region XXI (New England) postseason tournament. Let's go Cougars!
Photo: Drobiak takes a lead off first base during Saturday's second game.