Ten-Run Outburst Headlines Baseball Doubleheader Split vs. Saint Michael's
Links: Box Score (G1) | Box Score (G2) | Joe Carnevale Interview
NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. – After dealing with the lingering effects of the unprecedented amount of snow covering the region, the Merrimack College baseball team finally took the field for its home opener in a doubleheader against Saint Michael's College on Sunday afternoon. The Warriors won Game 1, 10-3, before losing in the second game after a three-run ninth inning from the Purple Knights. Merrimack takes the season series against Saint Michael's and sits at 4-6 in the Northeast Division.
The Basics
Score (G1): Merrimack 10 | Saint Michael's 3
Score (G2): Merrimack 3 | Saint Michael's 5
Records: Merrimack (12-11, 4-6 NE. Div) | Saint Michael's (6-15, 2-8 NE Div.)
Location: Warrior Baseball Diamond | North Andover, Mass.
What They Said
Head coach Nick Barese: "It was really nice to finally open up at home. We got great effortsfrom our starting pitching again. In Game 1, it was great to see our offense stay relentless the entire game, led by Sean O'Neill. It was disappointing to split, but fortunately we have another great oppotunity on Tuesday."
How It Happened (G1)
Senior right-hander Joe Carnevale (East Providence, R.I.) took the mound for the Warriors looking to win his second straight start. The Warriors entered the day with an opportunity to sweep the season-series with the Purple Knights, after winning a single-game played at Trinity Stadium in Haverhill, Mass. a few weeks ago.
The Warriors got on the board first as a Sean O'Neill (Norwood, Mass.) ground out scored junior Frank Crinella (East Longmeadow, Mass.). The Purple Knights actually took a brief lead after a run in the top of the second and third innings.
The Warriors took the lead for good in the bottom of the third. Leadoff hitter Tyler Lyne (Agawam, Mass.) singled to right field and stole second. After a walk to Crinella, O'Neill came to the plate and ripped a single to centerfield, scoring Lyne. Freshman Ricky Smith (Weymouth, Mass.) stepped to the dish with two outs, but the Warriors executed a first-and-third play, with Crinella scampering home as O'Neill was caught in a rundown between first and second base.
The scoring continued in the fifth as RBI singles from Crinella and O'Neill, along with a run-scoring double from Cam DiSarcina (Shirley, Mass.), broke the game open at 6-2. The Warriors scored in each of their final four at-bats, as O'Neill picked up his fourth RBI and fourth hit of the game in the bottom of the eight to wrap up the scoring and give the Warriors at 10-2 lead.
Carnevale battled to throw eight innings, not allowing a Purple Knight run over the final five frames. He finished with eight strikeouts, increasing his season total to 46 and program-record total to 216.
How It Happened (G2)
The second game of the twin bill featured a pitcher's duel, as run scoring was at a premium. Sophomore Perry Kulaga (Lincroft, N.J.) took the hill for his sixth start of the season, looking to snap a five-game no-decision streak. The Warriors hurler has yet to record a decision, win or loss, this season. Southpaw Alex Winkelmann toed the rubber for the Purple Knights.
After Kulaga got through one turn of the visitors' order without allowing a run, the Warriors bats plated a run in the bottom of the third. The Warriors, who were aggressive on the base paths all afternoon, took advantage of a two-base throwing error as Crinella advanced from first to third on the play. O'Neill continued has strong afternoon with a run-scoring double.
The Purple Knights tied the game at 1-1 on a groundout in the top of the fifth inning. Kulaga only lasted through five frames, allowing one run on two hits and striking out four batters. Merrimack took a brief lead in the bottom of the sixth as Ryan Petrone (Leicester, Mass.) singled home Bobby Losanno (Peabody, Mass.).
With freshman left-hander Cam LaFleur (Brookline, N.H.) pitching in the top of the seventh, the Purple Knights took advantage of some miscues by the Warriors. With runners on first and second with no outs, PJ Jasak chopped a grounder to third base, but Crinella booted the ball, which caromed into shallow left field. Donnie McGuirl came around to score from second to tie the game.
LaFleur still was pitching in the top of the ninth when defensive mistakes came back to bite the Warriors again. With two outs, Crinella mishandled another grounder from Jasak, with extended the inning. The Purple Knights proceeded to score three runs to take a 5-2 lead. DiSarcina drove in Lyne in the bottom of the ninth to make it 5-3, but O'Neill and pinch hitter Dionys Quezada (Lawrence, Mass.) could not keep the rally going representing the tying run.
Inside The Numbers
- O'Neill combined to go 6-for-10 between the two games, totaling five RBI. The preseason all-region selection now leads the Warriors with a .397 average and is tied for second with 16 RBI
- DiSarcina, batting third for the second straight day, increased his season-long hitting streak to eight games. He collected two hits and score two runs in the first game, while got one base knock in the second game
- Swift stealers: Merrimack totaled six stolen bases on day, including three from Losanno. Three players on the Warriors now have at least seven swipes on the year. The aggressiveness cost the Warriors at times those, as three runners were picked off in the second game
- Petrone, who started both of the games after not starting the previous five contests, went 2-for-3 in the second game including the RBI single that momentarily gave the Warriors a lead
Up Next
The Navy and Gold will see the Bentley Falcons for the second time in four days as the Warriors will play the Falcons from the Warrior Baseball Diamond on Tuesday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled at 3:30 p.m.
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