COTE ST. LUC, QUE – Infielder
Matthew Rachman of Surrey, B.C., had three hits, including a home run, as McGill blanked Concordia 4-0 in the opener of the Quebec university baseball final series, a best-of-three affair, at Gary Carter Field, Saturday.
The result, in the first game of a doubleheader during Homecoming Week on the McGill campus, was the third consecutive victory for the Redbirds, who improved to 20-8 overall.
McGill, designated as the visitors for this game at its home venue, only had five hits but crossed home plate once in each of the second, third and fourth innings, then added another run in the top of the sixth.
Rachman, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound third-baseman, went 3-for-3, with a double, drove home a pair of runs and scored once. The 21-year-old science senior in microbiology and immunology gave McGill a three-run cushion when he led off the fourth inning with a homer to left on a 1-1 count.
McGill starter
Gabe Braun and reliever
Caden Welch combined for a one-hit shutout over the Stingers. The no-hitter bid was spoiled by
Kyle Hazel, who singled in the first inning.
Braun allowed one hit over three innings. He walked five and struck out three. Welch, who was credited with the victory, pitched the last four innings, allowed no hits, struck out four and walked one.
Rounding out the hits for McGill was centrefielder
Jett Jarvis, who went 1-for-4, and first-baseman
Brad Marelich was 1-for-3 with a run and a walk.
Concordia starter
Tyler Bawart lasted five innings, allowing three runs on four hits. He walked three, hit two batters and struck out one.
Benjamin Powell, who came on in relief for the final two innings, allowed one run on one hit, struck out one and hit two batsmen.
McGill is now poised to sweep the series, with Game 2 slated to start at 2:30 p.m. Ace right-hander
Arthur "Cinch" Smith will be on the mound for the Redbirds and
Nathan Lavoie is slated to be on the hill for the Stingers.
BOXSCORE
McGILL ROSTER
SOURCE
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-398-7012 (Tel.)
www.mcgillathletics.ca
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca
