Bats Come Alive in Nightcap as Baseball Splits Doubleheader Against New Haven

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BATS EXPLODE IN 10-3 WIN IN NIGHTCAP; NEW HAVEN DOWNS WARRIORS, 13-1, IN OPENER

Links:  Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Sophomore Sean O'Neill (Norwood, Mass.) and sophomore Frank Crinella (Springfield, Mass.) enjoyed a three-hit day, while freshman Perry Kulaga (Lincroft, N.J.) pitched seven solid shutout innings, leading the Merrimack College baseball team to a Sunday afternoon doubleheader split against New Haven at Frank Vieira Field. The Warriors rebounded from a tough 13-1 defeat in the opener before beating the Chargers, 10-3 in the nightcap.

The Basics

Game 1 Score: New Haven 13 , Merrimack 1
Game 2 Score:  Merrimack 10, New Haven 3
Records: Merrimack (9-6, 3-1 NE-10) | New Haven (4-3, 2-2 NE-10)
Location: Frank Vieira Field | West Haven, Conn.

How it Happened (Game 1)

After a scoreless first, New Haven opened the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the second, as a RBI single from TJ Riccio put the Chargers up 2-0 after two.
 
In the third inning, New Haven continued its rally with nine runs off seven hits and a Merrimack error. DeMorais, Collett, Riccio and Buckley each contributed two RBIs to extend the Chargers lead to 13-0.

Down by 13, senior Alex Ciullo (Fall River, Mass.) put the Warriors on the board with an RBI single to allow sophomore Matt Brown (Belmont, Mass.) to score Merrimack's first run of the game.

That however, would be the only offense that Merrimack would muster in the opener.
Junior righty Junior Vasquez (Lawrence, Mass.) took the loss after allowing five runs on one hit through two innings, while Pat Simone picked up the win after his team backed him up with a 13-0 lead through seven innings.

A Closer Look
  • Three different Merrimack players registered a hit for the Warriors, as Brown went 1-of-1 at the plate and tallied the only run for Merrimack.
  • T.J. Riccio led the Chargers offensively with a team-high four hits, four RBIs, and a run.
  • New Haven's Pat Simone earned his second victory of the season, allowing only four hits, no walks and four strikeouts.
  • The Chargers went 13-of-36 at the plate as the Warrios' bullpen recorded only three strikeouts and eight walks.
  • Cuillo tallied Merrimack's only RBI while New Haven tallied 12 RBIs in Game 1.

How it Happened (Game 2)

Following the break, the Warriors returned to the diamond determined not to let the night cap get away. And after a one-run first, the Warriors promptly ran away with the second game after combing for nine runs over a four-inning span.

In the top of the second, the Warriors put up five runs on three hits. New Haven starter John Melville struggled with his control early, as the Warriors capitalized on offense. Senior CJ Flannery (Hudson, Mass.) started the rally for the Warriors with a sacrifice fly to score freshman Ryan Petrone (Cherry Valley, Mass.) before an RBI single from Crinella allowed Losanno to cross home.

With the Warriors up 3-0, O'Neill connected for an RBI double to right field sending freshman Cam DiSarcina (Shirley, Mass.), Crinella and sophomore Mike Forgione (North Branford, Conn.) home, giving the Warriors a 6-0 lead heading into the bottom of the second.

Kulaga would settle down and toss another scoreless fame, before Merrimack tacked on another run off a RBI sacrifice fly from Forgione to allow sophomore Bobby Losanno (Peabody, Mass.) to score. This would be the Warriors seventh run of the game.

With Merrimack up seven, New Haven finally got on the board in the bottom of the third. Brendan Buckley drove in the Chargers first run of the contest on an RBI double.

After a scoreless fourth inning, the Warriors would bounce right back, as an RBI single off the bat of Crinella gave Merrimack a 9-1 advantage.

Kulaga would keep the Chargers off the board in the bottom of the sixth and the seventh. While on offense, O'Neill would score off a wild pitch in the top of the eighth, giving the Warriors an 10-1 lead.

Down by nine, New Haven rallied against senior Travis Terrill (Hudson, N.H.), as the Chargers plated two runs in the bottom of the eighth, but sophomore Mike Nolan (Pembroke, Mass.) would come in and shut down the home team to end New Haven's rally and the game.

A Closer Look
  • Forgione and Petrone chipped in with two hits each while Fogione tallied two runs against the Chargers.
  • Kulaga picked up the win for the Warriors, as he tallied three hits, five strikeouts and five walks in seven innings of work.
  • New Haven's John Melville earned his first loss of the season, allowing 10 hits and nine runs.
  • Merrimack finished 13-of-38 (.342) at the plate while the Chargers went 7-of-35 (.200).
  • New Haven held a slim 12-10 edge in players left on base.

What they Said

"I am very proud of how we responded in game two after game one against New Haven," said head coach Jim Martin. "Perry Kulaga pitched very well and I was very happy on how we executed offensively in key situations."

Up Next
 Merrimack returns to action, Wednesday, March 26th, when they travel to Waltham, Mass. to take on Bentley University at Robert DeFelice Field. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

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For continuing coverage of Merrimack College Athletics, visit MerrimackAthletics.com and follow the Warriors on Twitter and on Facebook.

 
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