Baseball Drops 13-6 Contest vs. Palm Beach Atlantic
Links: Box Score
WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. – The Merrimack College baseball team spotted the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish nine runs before the Warriors could even get on the board and the Warriors could not work their way back into the game, as the Sailfish came away with the 13-6 victory from Rubin Park on Tuesday afternoon. After winning the first four games of the year, Merrimack has now lost its last two contests.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 6 | Palm Beach Atlantic 13
Records: Merrimack (4-2) | Palm Beach Atlantic (10-7)
Location: Rubin Park | West Palm Beach, Fla.
How It Happened
Like they did Monday night against Barry University, the Warriors dug themselves a big hole over the first three innings of the game. Redshirt junior Junior Vasquez (Lawrence, Mass.) got the nod to start for the Warriors, making his season debut on the hill.
Palm Beach Atlantic scored once in the opening frame, but after the Warriors returned to the field after a scoreless top of the second, the Sailfish went to work. Before Vazquez even recorded an out, PBA pushed across four runs in the bottom of the second. With the bases loaded, the Sailfish got an RBI single and then Vazquez walked in a run. Then the Sailfish hit back-to-back doubles to score three additional runs. After two innings, Palm Beach led 7-0 and after the bottom of the third it was 9-0.
The Warriors would not go quietly though. In the top of the fifth, Merrimack orchestrated a five-run inning. With the bases loaded and no outs, sophomore Cam DiSarcina (Shirley, Mass.) laced a double into left-center field to score Paul Buckley (Sagamore Beach, Mass.) and John Pastyrnak (Bristol, Conn.). DiSarcine would score the fourth run of the inning, trotting home following a double to right center by cleanup hitter Sean O'Neill (Norwood, Mass.). Merrimack made it just a three-run deficit, 9-6, with four full frames to play.
The Sailfish quickly answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth, and an additional two runs of insurance in the bottom of the seventh. The Warriors left West Palm Beach with a 13-6 loss.
Vasquez pitched the first three innings of the game, allowing nine runs (seven earned) and six hits, while striking out two batters. He struggled with his command, dealing out nine walks to a patient Sailfish lineup.
Inside The Numbers
- At the dish, DiSarcina, Frank Crinella (East Longmeadow, Mass.) and O'Neill, No. 2-4 in the order, had the best games for the Warriors. Disarcina and O'Neill registered the only two extra-base hits on the day for the Warriors, while each player totaled at least two hits and one RBI. O'Neill led the team with three base knocks and two runs scored
- Sophomore southpaw Mike Nolan (Pembroke, Mass.) made his season debut for the Navy and Gold. Nolan expects to be a key cog in the back end of the bullpen for the Warriors, pitching three innings against the Sailfish. He faced 14 batters and allowed five hits and three earned runs
- Sophomore Matt Dinello (Southington, Conn.) continues to pitch well in his second year. He tossed two scoreless innings and now has back-to-back appearances to begin the season without allowing a run
- After only playing in one game last season, sophomore Tyler Lyne (Agawam, Mass.) continues to impress in what hopes to be his first full season. After two hits against the Sailfish, Merrimack's left fielder now is hitting .444 on the season
Up Next
The Warriors will conclude its seven-game stretch through Florida to begin the 2015 season with a rematch against Barry University at 6:00 p.m. tomorrow night. The Navy and Gold lost to the Buccaneers, 21-11, on Monday night.
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