O'Leary Scampers Home as Baseball Walks Off Against Bentley Thursday, 2-1

4/27/2017 12:00:00 AM

Links: Box Score (Game 1) | Box Score (Game 2)

WALTHAM, Mass. – After Thursday began with a 5-4 Bentley victory in the bottom of the 12^th to complete the suspended game between the Falcons and the Merrimack College baseball team from March 30, the Warriors ended the day with a 2-1 walk-off victory from DeFelice Field in Waltham, Mass. as freshman Joey Porricelli (Monroe, Conn.) beat out a chopper to shortstop that allowed senior Aidan O'Leary (Portsmouth, N.H.) to score from third. Merrimack served as the home team and hit last because the contest was originally supposed to be played on the Warrior Baseball Diamond, but due to unplayable field conditions on campus Thursday morning, the programs were forced to move the contest to Bentley's campus.

The Basics
Score (Game 1): Bentley 5, Merrimack 4
Score (Game 2): Merrimack 2, Bentley 1
Records: Merrimack (19-16, 11-3 NE10 NE) | Bentley (9-23, 7-6 NE10 NE)
Location: DeFelice Field | Waltham, Mass.

Inning By Inning (Suspended Game – Innings 1-11 completed on March 30)

• 1^st inning – Looking for the program's sixth straight win over Bentley dating back to 2015, junior PJ Browne (Rutland, Mass.) took the ball for the Warriors and struck out the side in the bottom of the first
• 3^rd inning – With the game still scoreless in the bottom of the fourth, Porricelli continued his strong defensive play at third base with a pair of putouts at the hot corner in the fourth, stranding a pair of Falcons on base
• 4^th inning – After another quiet set of at-bats for the Navy and Gold, Browne struck out the side for the second time in the game to keep the score at 0-0
• 5^th inning – Graduate shortstop Mike Forgione (North Branford, Conn.) knocked in the first run of the game on a single to left field in the top half. In the bottom of the fifth, Bentley put runners on the runners with two outs and hit a shallow flare to right field, but junior Matt Nicholson (Rockland, Mass.) raced in and made a diving catch to end the frame
• 6^th inning – Merrimack's offense came alive in the sixth. Run-scoring singles from sophomore Matthew Ronai (Orange, Conn.) and senior Paul Buckley (Sagamore Beach, Calif.) highlighted the frame for the Warriors as the Navy and Gold had four runs cross the plate in the frame
• 8^th inning – After junior Joe Westerman (Maynard, Mass.) successfully relieved Browne for 1.1 innings of relief, senior Matt DiNello (Southington, Conn.) came in to start the eighth. After loading the bases, a throwing error allowed two Falcons to score, and brought senior Nate Spielvogel (Brookline, Mass.) into the game. A passed ball resulted in Bentley's third run, while two straight walks loaded the bases again and forced the Navy and Gold to bring in sophomore Cam Monagle (Cambridge, Mass.). Monagle allowed the tying run, but got out of the game without further damage
• 11^th inning – The Warriors didn't muster a threat in their final three at-bats, while Monagle recorded a one-two-three bottom half including an inning-ending strikeout before play was suspended
• 12^th inning – Merrimack went down in order in the top half on April 12 before rain prevented the completion of the game, postponing the contest further and bringing Bentley up to bat at the original site of competition. Junior Anthony Lupi (Dover, N.H.) – the scheduled game two starter – pitched in the 12^th and allowed a leadoff single that eventually led to the game-winning run that gave Bentley a 5-4 win

Inning By Inning

• Top 2^nd – Merrimack remained the "home team" and hit second as the nine-inning tilt was originally supposed to the Warriors' home game. With Bentley leading off the second, the Falcons loaded the bases in the second on three singles. A chopper to third appeared to escaped further damage by inducing an inning-ending double play
• Bottom 2^th – The Warriors threatened in the bottom half, putting runners on the corners with two outs, but a pickoff at third ended the frame
• Top 5^th – Back-to-back singles and a wild pitch created a two-on, one-out situation for Lupi. Merrimack's southpaw got out of the jam with a pop up to third followed by a grounder to the hot corner to keep the Warriors' deficit at 1-0
• Bottom 5^th – Merrimack loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom half, and Porricelli worked a 3-2 count on Bentley's ace Bill Sullivan, but the rookie skied one to shallow left to end the frame
• Top 7^th – Lupi departed from the game after 6.1 innings, leaving two runners on from DiNello, who rolled up a 6-4-3 inning-ending double play to keep the Falcons off the scoreboard
• Bottom 9^th – With one out, junior Ricky Smith (Weymouth, Mass.) drew a five-pitch walk and was replaced at first base by senior Ryan Petrone (Leicester, Mass.). O'Leary pinch hit for the next batter and roped a first-pitch fastball to centerfield to put two runners on. One batter later and with two outs, senior Tyler Lyne (Agawam, Mass.) hit a grounder up the middle that allowed Petrone to score, tying the game at one-all. O'Leary advanced to third on the throw home and scored on the following play, which was ruled an error as the shortstop's low throw could not be controlled by the Falcons' first baseman

Game 1 Notes

• WP: Sullivan (5-5) | LP: Lupi (4-3)
• Browne's start – one the occurred almost one month ago – featured 5.2 innings of work, nine strikeouts and only five hits allowed
• Every Warrior who started in the game, recorded a hit, including a team-best three-hit effort from Buckley
• Liam Matheson had been 0-for-3 with a walk before driving in the game-winning run in the 12th

Game 2 Notes

• WP: DiNello (2-1) | LP: Corriveau (0-3)
• Sullivan worked into the ninth inning for the Falcons on Thursday, but his one-out walk proved to be the end of his outing. The tying run was charged to Bentley's ace, but Ryan Corriveau conceded the game-winning run
• Lupi scattered eight hits over 6.1 innings, allowing one unearned run and striking out three batters. He broke the 50-inning plateau on the season, while lowering his ERA to 2.31, which is among the top-10 lowest in the NE10
• DiNello's resurgence has strengthened Merrimack's bullpen. The senior captain is on a 8.2 inning scoreless streak after allowing at least one run in five of his first six appearances
• The results of Thursday's games mean the season series between the Warriors and Falcons will be decided on Monday afternoon at the Warrior Diamond. The Navy and Gold hold a 3.5 game lead over the Falcons in the standings, with Bentley occupying the fourth and final playoff spot in the division
• O'Leary is now hitting 5-of-11 in April, including 2-for-2 in pinch-hitting scenarios

Up Next
Merrimack returns to campus tomorrow against Assumption College, hosting the Greyhounds at 3:30 p.m. from the Warrior Baseball Diamond.  

--

For continuing coverage of Merrimack College Athletics, visit MerrimackAthletics.com and follow the Warriors on Twitter and on Facebook.