Links: Box Score (Game 1) |
Box Score (Game 2)
GAFFNEY, S.C.  – Senior
Matt Nicholson collected a pair of home runs, sophomore
Joey Porricelli walloped his first-ever round-tripper and the Merrimack College baseball team split a season-opening doubleheader at Limestone College on Friday evening from Founders FCU Stadium.
The Basics
Score (Game 1): Limestone 4,
Merrimack 3
Score (Game 2): Merrimack 11, Limestone 10
Records: Merrimack (1-1) | Limestone (4-2)
Location: Founders FCU Stadium | Gaffney, S.C.
Rapid Recap (Game 1)
- Senior southpaw PJ Browne took the ball to start the first game of the season, and worked a one-two-three first inning before allowing one run each in the second in third innings. The Warriors trailed, 2-0, entering the top of the fourth
- Despite stranding a runner in scoring position in the fourth and fifth innings, Merrimack's offense broke through in the top of the sixth. Junior Matthew Ronai doubled to bring Nicholson to bat, who stroked a two-run homer to right field, tying the game at 2-2. Later in the frame, graduate student Paul Buckley hit a go-ahead single that scored senior captain Ricky Smith, giving the Warriors a 3-2 lead
- Sophomore Stephen Fleury worked out of a second-and-third jam with a strikeout to get out of the bottom of the sixth after relieving Browne to start the frame
- Fleury got into trouble in the bottom of the seven, putting runners on first and third with one out. Junior Trevor Cooley came on, but allowed a sacrifice fly to tie the game, 3-3. Cooley induced another fly out to end the frame and force extras
- The Warriors loaded the bases with one out in the top of the eighth, but could not score. Junior Daniel Amidon came on in the bottom, and allowed a two-out game-winning single to give Limestone a 4-3 win
Rapid Recap (Game 2)
- A four-run first inning got Merrimack off to a strong start. Nicholson, Smith, junior Cory Wasylow and Buckley each knocked in runs to put the Warriors in front, 4-0. Senior Joe Westerman took the ball in the bottom half, striking out the side albeit with two baserunners allowed to keep the Warriors' lead at four
- The Warriors added two more in the second, including a Porricelli's solo shot. Limestone got two back in the bottom of the third, but Westerman induced an inning-ending double play to escape further damage
- In the fourth, Merrimack scored two more highlighted by Nicholson's second round-tripper of the night. Limestone responded in the bottom half with two more runs to chase Westerman. Freshman Timmy Kalantzakos entered and allowed one inherited runner to score, but kept Merrimack's lead at three, 8-5, through four frames
- Ronai knocked in graduate student Tyler Lyne to account for Merrimack's ninth run in the sixth. Limestone answered with a three-run shot followed by a run-producing single in the seventh to tie the game, 9-9, and force extras
- A leadoff single followed by a fielding error for runners in scoring position in the top of the eighth. Ronai plated the runners with a two-run base knock. Freshman Vin Zappulla closed the down in the bottom of the eight to get the Warriors their first win of the year
Notes and Notables
- Browne's Final Line (0-0, ND): 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
- Westerman's Final Line (0-0, ND): 3.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
- Nicholson increased his career homer total to 15, moving within five of becoming the fourth player in program history with 20 career long balls
- Porricelli's game-two round-tripper marked the first homer of the sophomore's career. The Monroe, Conn. native had five extra-base hits as a freshman, all of which were doubles
Up Next
With rain in the forecast, the Warriors will attempt to play another doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. tomorrow against the Saints.
