Baseball Sweeps Southern Conn. State, 6-0, 10-6, Saturday Afternoon in Yaphank, N.Y.
WARRIORS OPEN NORTHEAST-10 CONFERENCE PLAY UNDEFEATED, 2-0
Links: Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
YAPHANK, N.Y. – Thanks to a high-powered offensive performance in the opener and a late rally in the nightcap, the Merrimack College baseball team swept Southern Conn. State University, taking game one by a 6-0 decision before defeating the Owls, 10-6, in 12 innings in game two in Northeast-10 Conference action at Baseball Heaven in Yaphank, N.Y.
The Basics
Game 1 Score: Merrimack 6, Southern Conn. State 0
Game 2 Score: Merrimack 10, Southern Conn. State 6 (12 innings)
Records: Merrimack (8-5, 2-0 NE-10) | Southern Conn. State (5-7-1, 0-2 NE-10)
Location: Baseball Heaven | Yaphank, N.Y.
How it Happened (Game 1)
Merrimack took a late lead with one run in the seventh and five runs in the eighth, which was more than enough for junior Joe Carnevale (East Providence, R.I.), as the third-year righty, to improve to 2-1 on the season and help beat the Owls with a 6-0 victory in game one.
After six scoreless innings, Merrimack finally got on the board with a RBI single from sophomore Pat Florence (Lowell, Mass.), as he poked an RBI single to right field to score junior Dionys Quezada (Lawrence, Mass.). With the Warriors up 1-0, Southern Conn. St. was able to put runners on base, but Carnevale ended the Owls chances with a double play to end the inning.
Shortly after, Merrimack continued were they left off in the seventh inning, as sophomore Frank Crinella (Springfield, Mass.) led off the inning with a solo home run. Next, freshman Cam DiSarcina (Shirley, Mass.) hit a double to right center field before sophomore Sean O'Neill (Norwood, Mass.) singled to left to score DiSarcina, making it a 3-0 game.
With one out and O'Neill on first, Quezada hit a two-run home run extending the Warriors lead to 5-0. After freshman Ryan Petrone (Cherry Valley, Mass.) and sophomore Bobby Losanno (Peabody, Mass.) were hit by pitch, SCSU's first baseman makes a throwing error to give Merrimack its sixth run of the game.
In the ninth inning, Southern Conn. threaten the Warriors with bases loaded and two outs, but Carnevale kept his composer and ended the Owls threat with a strikeout.
A Closer Look
- Four different Merrimack players registered two hits each while Quezada tallied two RBIs and a home run.
- Southern Conn. was out-hit by a slim margin (10-7) while stranding nine players on base.
- Merrimack finished 10-of-37 (.270) at the plate as well as posted five RBI and 10 strikeouts.
- Southern Conn.'s Rocco Cundari picked up the loss for the Owls as he struck out eight over seven innings of work.
- Over nine innings of work, Carnevale finished with seven hits, 12 strikeouts and no walks.
How it Happened (Game 2)
Southern Connecticut wasted no time getting on the scoreboard early in the contest. The Owls took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first off a fielder's choice. After four innings, Quezada put the ball right over the right field fence, to tally to his second home run of the day, and tied the Owls at one.
However, Southern Conn. State responded with three runs in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead over the Warriors. But, a single from senior Eddie Newton (North Billerica, Mass.) allowed Crinella to score and bring Merrimack to within two (4-2). With runners on first and third, Quezada singled to left field to score O'Neill for the Warriors' third run of the day.
In the bottom of the eighth, Southern Conn. State took a 5-3 lead over the Warriors after an Owls homerun. That lead would soon diminish as a late rally from Merrimack brought the Warriors ahead by one (6-5) heading into the bottom of the ninth. The rally started with a hit from Crinella allowing two runs to score before DiSarcina singled up the middle scoring Crinella.
With Merrimack up one, the Southern Conn. State Owls answered back with a run in the ninth, to send the game into extra innings. In the bottom of the 10th, the Warriors threatened the Owls, with bases loaded and one out, but Southern Conn. St. ended the inning with a double play.
Merrimack came through in the top of the 12th inning, scoring four runs to take a 10-6 lead over the Owls. Forgione started the rally with a single to left field before an RBI double from Crinella scored Forgione. With one out, O'Neill hit a triple to score Crinella and DiSarcina.
From that point on, Merrimack's pitching staff shut the Owls down in the bottom of the 12th to secure the sweep.
A Closer Look
- Forgione led the Warriors offensively going 5-for-5 at the plate while Crinella chipped in with five hits and two RBIs.
- Senior Tyler Cuming (Red Bank, N.J.) picked up his first win of the season, as he scattered thre hits, a run and five strikeouts in four innings of work.
- Merrimack finished 19-of-50 (.380) at the plate as well as posted eight RBI and only six strikeouts.
- Southern Conn.'s TK Kiernan picked up the loss for the Owls as he allowed four hits, three runs, three walks and two strikes.
- The Warriors' bullpen struck out 15 Owls and only allowed two walks.
What they Said
"I am proud of our with our overall effort, energy and how we competed," said head coach Jim Martin. "We pitched well all day and came up with big hits when we needed it. Both wins were great against a well coached team."
Up Next
Merrimack returns to action, tomorrow (March 23), when they take on the University of New Haven at Frank Vieira Field in West Haven, Conn. Games are scheduled for 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.
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