Baseball Fends Off Late Rally, Upends American International, 11-10
WARRIORS HOLD OFF LATE CHARGE FROM YELLOW JACKETS AND EARN 10TH WIN OF THE SEASON
Links: Box Score
HAVERHILL, Mass. – The Merrimack College baseball team earned its 10th win of the season, as the Warriors defeated Southwest Division foe American International Thursday evening at Haverhill Stadium by the score of 11-10.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 11, American International 10
Records: Merrimack (10-6, 4-1 NE-10) | American International (5-10, 0-5 NE-10)
Location: Haverhill Stadium | Haverhill, Mass.
How it Happened
Moments after the Yellow Jackets grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, the Warriors responded back with six runs in the third to take a lead that they would not surrender.
Junior Tim Cashman (Rowley, Mass.) picked up his second win of the season as the righty allowed two runs over six innings, while senior Tyler Cuming (Red Bank, N.J.) earned his fifth save of the season. Sophomore Mike Nolan (Pembroke, Mass.), junior Matt Solar (Sterling, Mass.) and junior righty Junior Vasquez (Lawrence, Mass.) also made an appearance on the mound for Merrimack.
American International opened the scoring in the top of the second with a solo home run. Shortly after, Merrimack jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the bottom of the third, after four RBIs from senior Alex Ciullo (Fall River, Mass.), junior John Pastyrnak (Bristol, Conn.), sophomore Frank Crinella (Springfield, Mass.), and sophomore Sean O'Neill (Norwood, Mass.).
An inning later, Merrimack extended its lead to seven after an RBI single from Crinella allowed sophomore Mike Forgione (North Branford, Conn.) to score. In the top of the fifth, American International cut the lead to five (7-2) after a Merrimack error allowed a Yellow Jacket run to come home.
Merrimack continued to dominate on offense, as the Warriors tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth after a passed ball allowed O'Neill to score and a RBI single allowed sophomore Matt Brown (Belmont, Mass.) to cross the plate.
With the Warriors up seven (11-4), American International rallied back with six runs in the top of the ninth, but Merrimack held on and prevailed, 11-10, Thursday night against the Yellow Jackets.
A Closer Look
- Crinella led the Warriors offensively, going 3-of-5 at the plate and recording two RBI while three Merrimack batsmen tallied two hits a piece.
- Ciullo and Crinella finished the evening with a team-high two RBI.
- The Yellow Jackets went 11-of-38 at the play as well as leaving 14 players on base.
- Cashman scattered nine hits, two runs over six innings of work while strikingout nine and walking three.
- With the save, Cuming's currently ranks second in the NE-10 with fives saves.
- Four different Yellow Jackets tallied two hits in Thursday's loss.
What they Said
"I am very happy we were able to do what it took to win," said head coach Jim Martin. "Tim Cashman pitched very well and we were able to put together quality at bats throughout the night."
Up Next
Due to the impending weather this weekend, the Warriors will now play two-games on Saturday, March 29th, against Saint Anselm. The games are now scheduled for 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. at Haverhill Stadium in Haverhill, Mass. On Sunday, the Warriors will wrap up the series against the Hawks with a 1 p.m. Northeast Division battle at Haverhill Stadium.
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