Bats Come Alive in Nightcap as Baseball Splits Doubleheader Against Bridgeport
Bats explode in 14-1 win in nightcap; Bridgeport edges Merrimack, 4-3, in opener
Box Score (Game 1) | Box Score (Game 2)
HAVERHILL, Mass. – Senior Casey Cotter (North Hampton, N.H.) enjoyed a five-hit day, while classmate Mike Laracy (Weymouth, Mass.) pitched five solid, shutout innings, leading the Merrimack baseball team to a Saturday afternoon/evening doubleheader split against visiting Bridgeport at Trinity Field, as the Warriors rebounded from a tough 4-3 defeat in the opener before romping the visitors, 14-1, in the nightcap.
Improving to 3-1 overall on the season, the Warriors nearly swept the doubleheader, but the Purple Knights (1-1) managed to spoil the opener after rallying with two runs in the top of the ninth to steal Game 1.
But Merrimack responded in a big way in the seven-inning finale, pounding out 10 hits and registering double-digit runs for the second time in four games this young season, as a solid start from the southpaw Laracy and back-to-back big innings helped the Warriors manage the day-night split.
"I'm proud of the way we bounced back to split the day," head coach Jim Martin said afterward. "Credit Bridgeport for some timely hitting down the stretch. But we had a lot of grit, we're a very determined group, and we were determined to go out there and get a win in the second game, and we did that. There's still plenty of work to do, but I'm proud of our effort."
Game 1
After start time was bumped from an anticipated 1 p.m. first pitch to 3:30 p.m. with snow still on the field, Merrimack and Bridgeport went back-and-forth in the first two innings before each respective side put zeroes up through three innings.
Down by one heading into the final third of the contest, Bridgeport tacked on a run in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 2-2 before the Warriors rallied to go ahead, 3-2, in the bottom of the eighth.
But with one out and two runners on in the top of the ninth, the Purple Knights managed to tie the game again thanks to a ground rule double, and moments later, the deciding run would cross by means of a passed ball, as the Warriors watched a potential victory slip from reach in a heartbreaking one-one setback.
Each side finished the contest with seven hits apiece, while sophomore starter Joe Carnevale (East Providence, R.I.) dazzled through six innings and was in line for the win by the time his last pitch was thrown. The righty struck out 10 batters and issued just one walk and one earned run in his first start of the season.
Merrimack had Bridgeport starter Chris Maull on the ropes early, as the Purple Knight righty lasted only four innings while surrendering five hits and two earned runs. But it was the work of reliever Mike Nowak that proved to be the difference for the visitors, as the righty tossed five effective innings of two-hit, one-run ball and became the pitcher of record after his side stormed ahead for good in the top of the ninth.
Cotter racked up three of his five hits on the day in the opener, finishing 3-for-4 with a run scored and another driven in. He and third baseman Eddie Newton (North Billerica, Mass.) were the only Warriors with multi-hit performances in Game 1, as the latter finished 2-for-4 in the afternoon tilt.
Merrimack eased ahead in the bottom of the first, as senior Alan Pastyrnak Jr. (Bristol, Conn.) was hit by pitch to lead off and later came in to score on a base hit knock to right off the stick of Cotter, giving the Warriors an early 1-0 advantage.
Bridgeport would respond in the top of the second, however, as Mike Olsyzk led off the frame with a single, moved to second on a walk, advanced to third on a double play before eventually scoring on a wild pitch.
The Warriors would answer an inning and a half later; a ground rule double from Cotter would set the table for Joe Mantoni (Northbridge, Mass.), and the senior designated hitter managed to drive in the go-ahead run by means of a groundout, scoring classmate Mark O'Flynn (Ipswich, Mass.) from third to push the home side ahead, 2-1.
Three scoreless innings ensued before Bridgeport again managed to tie the game at 2-2 in the top of the seventh. Undeterred, the Warriors proceeded to put two men on during a two-out rally in the bottom of the eighth before rookie Matt Brown (Belmont, Mass.) poked in the go-ahead run on a base hit to left, scoring Cotter to push the Warriors up, 3-2.
But with their backs to the wall, the Purple Knights managed to fight back, as pinch hitter Michael James tied the game again at three runs apiece on a ground rule double down the right field line off senior Brett Julian (Weymouth, Mass.), and moments later a passed ball allowed the go-ahead run to score. That wound up being the dagger, as the Warriors were kept in check in the home half of the ninth, giving Bridgeport a 4-3 win to start the day.
Game 2
Following the break, the Warriors returned to the diamond determined not to let the nightcap get away. And after a one-run first, the home side promptly ran away with the second game after combing for 12 runs over a two-inning span.
In the bottom of the second, the Warriors put up seven runs on five hits. Bridgeport starter Matt Wing struggled with his control early and often, as two walks and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the frame. After Pastyrnak Jr. forced in a run on the plunking, a double by O'Flynn added two more runs, giving the Warriors a 4-0 lead early in the match.
Following a pitching change, Cotter greeted new hurler Shaun Hancock with a two-RBI base hit. But the Warriors were still not through, as RBI knocks from Mantoni and Newton drove in two more scores before the inning finally ended with the Warriors leading, 8-0.
Five more Merrimack runs would cross an inning later, as control inconsistencies continued to plague the Bridgeport staff.
Ahead by a 13-1 margin heading into the fourth, each side would tack on one more run apiece before the seven-inning game concluded with the Warriors comfortably ahead.
Laracy improved to 2-0 on the year after going the necessary five innings for the win, finishing with four strikeouts and two walks. Junior righty Tyler Cuming (Red Bank, N.J.) and sophomore right-hander Junior Vasquez (Lawrence, Mass.) each tossed an inning of relief to close out the contest for the Warriors.
Merrimack will return to action a week from Saturday, as the team travels down to Florida for a seven-game stretch over the course of four days. The Warriors open their stint in the Sunshine State with a doubleheader against Concordia next Saturday (March 9).
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