Quezada's Two-Homer Game Headlines Baseball's Doubleheader Sweep vs. Wilmington
Links: Box Score G1 | Box Score G2
MIAMI, Fla. – After two 1-0 victories to begin the season on Saturday, the Merrimack College baseball team followed up that effort with another doubleheader sweep, this time at the expense of the Wilmington (Del.) College Wildcats from Feinbloom Field on Sunday afternoon. Strong pitching headlined the first game for the Warriors in a 4-2 victory, while the offense came alive for eight runs in the second contest.
The Basics
Score (G1): Merrimack 4 | Wilmington 2
Score (G2): Merrimack 8 | Wilmington 3
Records: Merrimack (4-0)| Wilmington (3-5)
Location: Feinbloom Field | Miami, Fla.
What They Said
Head coach Nick Barese: "Another couple of really good wins today. We got great pitching performances from Perry Kulaga and PJ Browne as they filled up the strike zone and pitched tough in big spots. It kept the defense engaged and we made plays when we needed to. Offensively, Matt Brown and Dionys Quezada sparked up. Wilmington is a strong program, and I have a lot of respect for that program and coaching staff. These were two important regional wins."
How It Happened (G1)
After securing two 1-0 victories in a doubleheader against Nyack College on Opening Day on Saturday, the Warriors were looking for a little more offense as the went to Miami for regional contests against Wilmington of the CACC. Sophomore Perry Kulaga (Lincroft, N.J.) got the nod from Barese to start for the Warriors, as Merrimack served as the home team in the first game.
The first five innings went by scoreless as Kulaga and his opposition Chris Lopez kept both offenses at bay. After the completion of the fifth inning, the Warriors pitching staff had gone through the first 19 innings of the season without allowing a run.
In the top of the sixth, the Wildcats finally got to Merrimack's starter. Kulaga allowed a lead-off double to Mike Annone, who was then sacrificed over to the third base, putting a runner 90 feet from home with only one out in the inning. The Wildcats would call a squeeze play and it worked to perfection, as Annone came to home to begin the scoring.
Kulaga would get out of the sixth, and conclude his first appearance of the season. His final line was six innings pitched, allowing four hits and one earned run. He struck out five Wildcats, while walking just two batters.
Merrimack's bats would come to aid of its pitching in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings. Back-to-back singles from Frank Crinella (East Longmeadow, Mass.) and Sean O'Neill (Norwood, Mass.) brought junior designated hitter Matt Brown (Belmont, Mass.) to the plate. The captain laced a two-run double into right center to give Merrimack the lead for good. Cam DiSarcina (Shirley, Mass.) and Crinella would add insurance RBI in the eighth to make it a 4-1 game.
Sophomore Matt Dinello (Southington, Conn.) tossed two innings of relief to secure his first career win, while sophomore Nate Spielvogel (Brookline, Mass.) worked around one earned run to record the first save of his career.
How it Happened (G2)
The sides regrouped for the final game of the doubleheader, with the Navy and Gold serving as the away team. After scoring six runs over its first three games, the Warriors offense came alive in the second game of the day and fourth of 2015
In the top of the second, senior Dionys Quezada (Lawrence, Mass.) came to plate with one runner on and laced a two-run homer to left field. Brown scored in front of Quezada, who was not done for the day. The top of the seventh rolled around and the fourth-year player smacked his second long ball of the game to increase Merrimack's lead to 4-2. A four-run eighth inning would give the Navy and Gold all the breathing they needed for the 8-3 win. Queza went 3-for-3 on the day with two HR, three RBI, three runs scored and one walk.
Freshman southpaw PJ Browne (Rutland, Mass.) made his first career appearance and start as a Warrior, battling through eight innings. He collected his first career victory, allowing 11 hits and three runs while striking out three batters. Rookie Cam LaFleur (Brookline, N.H.) made his first career appearance, tossing a scoreless ninth inning.
Up Next
Merrimack will stay in the Miami area for a contest against Barry University tomorrow night at 6 p.m. The Warriors play Barry twice over the next three days, with a single game against Palm Beach Atlantic sprinkled in the middle of the two Barry contests.
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