Late Surge Propels Bentley University over Baseball, 5-2, in Extra Innings
WARRIORS FALL 5-2 IN THIRD MATCH UP WITH FALCONS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AT THE WARRIOR BASEBALL DIAMOND
Links: Box Score
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Sophomore Matt Brown (Belmont, Mass.) and sophomore Bobby Losanno (Peabody, Mass.) tallied a team-high two hits each, but the Merrimack College baseball team dropped a tough 5-2 decision to Northeast Divisional foe Bentley University Wednesday afternoon in extra innings at the Warrior Baseball Diamond.
The Basics
Score: Bentley 5, Merrimack 2 (10 innings)
Records: Merrimack (20-19, 8-10 NE Division) | Bentley (21-14, 12-5 NE Division)
Location: Warrior Baseball Diamond | North Andover, Mass.
How it Happened
Merrimack held an early 2-0 lead over the Falcons until the visitors rallied for two runs in the top of the ninth to send the game into extra innings. Shortly after, the Falcons took control in the 10th to secure the win and the three-game sweep over the Warriors.
With two outs in the bottom of the first, Brown connected for the Warriors' first run of the afternoon after he allowed freshman Cam DiSarcina (Shirely, Mass.) to score after an RBI double to deep right field. After a scoreless second inning, the Warriors pushed their lead to two (2-0) as a sacrifice fly from sophomore Frank Crinella (Springfield, Mass.) allowed sophomore Mike Forgione (North Branford, Conn.) to cross home.
Senior Conner McMahon (Westfield, Mass.) and Bentley pitcher David Long buckled down and kept both teams at bay, but in the bottom of the seventh the Falcons threatened Merrimack with runners on first and third with one out. McMahon kept his composer and ended the threat with a pop up to short and a strikeout.
In the top of the ninth, the Falcons made their move and rallied for two runs off four hits and a Merrimack error to tie the game at two. However, Merrimack was unable to get a rhythm going in the bottom of the ninth sending the game in extra innings.
Bentley continued its late rally as the Falcons started the inning with a single down the right field line before taking a 3-2 lead after an RBI single from Justin Ashworth. With no outs and runners on second and third, the Falcons struck again with back-to-back RBIs from Will Brennan and Tom Nagy to take a 5-2 lead heading into the bottom of the tenth. However, the Warriors went down in the order of the 10th and suffered its 19th loss of the season.
Inside the Numbers
- The Warriors finished the afternoon with seven hits and two RBI compared to Bentley's 11 hits and four RBI.
- Brown and Crinella tallied the Warriors' two RBI of the afternoon while three different Merrimack players registered a hit each.
- Bentley's Will Brennan led the visitors with a 3-of-5 showing at the plate to go along with his one run of the day.
- Senior Tyler Cuming (Red Bank, N.J.) picked up his fifth loss of the season as the righty allowed three runs off five hits.
- Bentley's pitcher David Long pitched a complete game and allowed two runs off seven hits as well as tallied seven strikeouts and a walk.
Northeast Division Standings
1. Franklin Pierce (13-5)
2. Bentley (12-5)
3. Southern N.H. (14-6)
4. Stonehill (11-6)
T5. Assumption (8-10) (Holds head-to-head tiebreaker vs. Merrimack)
T5. Merrimack (8-10)
7. Saint Michael's (4-15)
8. Saint Anselm (4-17)
- Following the loss, the Warriors are now tied in fifth with Assumption College.
- Merrimack will need to sweep three games against Stonehill, who it faces this weekend in a three-game series, for a shot at the postseason
- Stonehill also has one game against Southern New Hampshire, as well; one win for Stonehill the rest of the way eliminates Merrimack
Up Next
The baseball team returns to action on Thursday, May 1st, as the Warriors travel to Easton, Mass. to take on Stonehill College in a three-game, three-day Northeast Division series. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Lou Gorman Field.
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