Baseball Drubs Caldwell, 11-2, Before Snow Cancels Game 2
Box Score
CALDWELL, N.J. – The Merrimack baseball team exploded on offense in the game's early goings, and sophomore Joe Carnevale (East Providence, R.I.) limited host Caldwell to just two runs over seven innings, as the Warriors downed the Cougars, 11-2, early Saturday morning before snow canceled the second scheduled contest.
The Warriors improve to 7-5 on the season, while the Cougars dropped to 1-10. The two teams will return to the diamond tomorrow (March 17) for a scheduled doubleheader slated to begin at 12 p.m.
Merrimack's offense plated nine runs over its first five trips to the plate, and that early output would be more than enough to help the Navy and Gold to an easy win against Caldwell.
Sophomore Dionys Quezada (Lawrence, Mass.) led the way on offense with a team-high three hits and three RBI, while senior Joe Mantoni (Northbridge, Mass.) and freshman Frank Crinella (Springfield, Mass.) each drove in two runs apiece, as the Warriors compiled 12 hits to fuel their way to victory.
Carnevale improved to 2-0 on the year after pitching seven strong innings, limiting the Cougars to two runs – and just one earned – over the span of his quality start.
The Warriors did not wait long to take a lead, as a two-RBI double off the bat of Mantoni plated the first two runs of the game just four at-bats into the contest. Moments later, the senior designated hitter would move to third on a passed ball before scoring on a groundout to give the visitors a 3-0 advantage after a half inning of play.
Following a scoreless third inning, each side would scratch across a few runs combined in the third. First, for Merrimack, senior Casey Cotter (North Hampton, N.H.) and Mantoni singled and reached on a hit by pitch, respectively, before moving up a base on a passed ball. With runners in scoring position, Quezada sliced a base hit through the left side, scoring two more runs to push the Warriors up, 5-0.
The host Cougars managed to plate an unearned run against Carnevale in the home half of the third, however. Mike LaTorraca started the frame by doubling into the gap in right center before moving to third on a throwing error. The center fielder would cross the plate one at-bat later on another fielding error, slicing Caldwell's deficit to four (5-1) after three innings of play.
After a scoreless fourth, Merrimack would add a couple more scores in the top of the fifth, all by means of a two-out rally. Mantoni and rookie Matt Brown (Belmont, Mass.) started the charge with back-to-back singles before Quezada drove in his third RBI of the day with a base hit to left field.
Eddie Newton (North Billerica, Mass.) would follow suit with an RBI single of his own one batter later, scoring Brown on the play. After both he and Quezada advanced by means of a passed ball, Crinella added to the onslaught with a two-RBI single through the left side, and when the dust settled, Merrimack's lead had increased to a 9-1 margin by the end of the inning.
Caldwell responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth, but other than that, Carnevale was otherwise stellar. The sophomore finished his day with six strikeouts while allowing just one earned run and scattered seven hits over seven strong innings.
Equipped with an even bigger lead after Merrimack added two more runs in the top of the seventh, senior Brett Julian (Weymouth, Mass.) pitched the final two innings for the Warriors, keeping Caldwell off the board the rest of the way to secure the win.
Merrimack and Caldwell return to action tomorrow, March 17, to conclude the Warriors' weekend in New Jersey. First pitch of a scheduled doubleheader is set for 12 p.m.
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