Spielvogel Sets Saves Record in Baseball's Series-Clinching 4-3 Win vs. Saint Anselm
Links: Box Score | Nate Spielvogel Interview
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Junior closer Nate Spielvogel (Brookline, Mass.) notched his third straight save and the 11th of his three-year career, becoming the program's all-time saves leader in the process, as the Merrimack College baseball team held on for a 4-3 win over Saint Anselm on Wednesday afternoon from the Warrior Baseball Diamond.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 4, Saint Anselm 3
Records: Merrimack (24-11, 8-2 NE Div.) | Saint Anselm (8-24, 3-8 NE Div.)
Location: Warrior Diamond | North Andover, Mass.
What They Said:
Head coach Nick Barese: "Great win today in the division and to win us the series. Our offense did a good job setting the tone immediately. Riley gave us another quality start and the bullpen was outstanding. Joe Westerman and Nate did exactly what we needed them to do."
How It Happened
Merrimack's offense got on the board early with a four-run first inning. Junior Tyler Lyne (Agawam, Mass.) slapped a single into centerfield and Cam DiSarcina (Shirley, Mass.) reached on an error to put two on base. Cleanup hitter Sean O'Neill (Norwood, Mass.) sliced a double into the left-center gap, plating both runners. O'Neill came around on a double from Matt Nicholson (Rockland, Mass.), and Matthew Ronai (Orange, Conn.) knocked him in on a single to centerfield.
Freshman Riley Sorenson (Sandwich, Mass.) made his second start of the season against the Hawks and kept the visitors off the scoreboard into the fifth. Saint Anselm got to the rookie in that frame, loading the bases on two walks and a single. Sorenson responded with back-to-back strikeouts, but a bases-clearing double made it a 4-3 game before Sorenson got out of the inning.
The bullpen took the game over from there. Sophomore Joe Westerman (Maynard, Mass.) came on in the sixth and did not allow a hit, striking out three Hawks in three innings of work. The outing marked his third scoreless appearance of the season, while his 21 strikeouts are tied for the most among Merrimack's relievers.
Spielvogel entered the game in the ninth, looking for his second save in as many days and third straight overall. The junior struck out the first batter he faced, and induced consecutive groundouts to the left side to collect the win.
The win marked Merrimack's second over the Hawks in eight days, with the Warriors clinching the season series with the victory.
Inside The Numbers
- Sorenson's final line (W, 3-0): 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 4 K
- Westerman's final line: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
- Spielvogel's final line (Sv, 5): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 K
- Spielvogel broke the record of 10 saves previously held by Brett Julian (2010-13). He needs one more save to tie the six he had last year as a sophomore. He already has a career high with 21 strikeouts, and leads Merrimack with 14.17 K's per nine innings
- Autrey Gates, Saint Anselm's starter, settled down after the first, limiting the Warriors to two hits over their five seven at-bats
Up Next
Merrimack hosts fifth-ranked Southern New Hampshire on Saturday afternoon to begin a three-game series with the Penmen. Saturday's game will be Senior Day, with Matt Brown (Belmont, Mass.), Pat Florence (Lowell, Mass.), Mike Forgione (North Branford, Conn.), Mike Nolan (Pembroke, Mass.), Bobby Losanno (Peabody, Mass.), O'Neill and Zach Schindler (Halifax, Mass.) set to be honored. The series will conclude on Sunday with a doubleheader at 12 p.m.
--
For continuing coverage of Merrimack College Athletics, visit MerrimackAthletics.com and follow the Warriors on Twitter and on Facebook.
