Links: Box Score (Game 1) |
Box Score (Game 2)
WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Graduate outfielder
Tyler Lyne went 2-for-4 with two RBI, two doubles and two runs scored, freshman
Vin Zappulla threw a career-best seven innings of one-run ball and senior
PJ Browne registered his first save to lead the Merrimack College baseball program to a 6-1 victory over No. 7 New Haven at Frank Vieira Field on Sunday. The Chargers rebounded to claim game two of the twinbill, leaving the Warriors with a 8-8 overall record entering the start of divisional play.
The Basics
Score (G1): Merrimack 6, #7 New Haven 1
Score (G2): #7 New Haven 11,
Merrimack 3
Records: Merrimack (8-8, 2-2 NE10) | #7 New Haven (17-2, 2-2 NE10)
Location: Frank Vieira Field | West Haven, Conn.
Rapid Recap (Game 1):
- Zappulla took the ball for the first time in three weeks in the opener against the Chargers, who had suffered their first loss of the season just one day earlier. Despite allowing one baserunner in each of the first three innings, Merrimack's rookie put up three zeros, eliminating the runner in each frame
- Each team pushed one run across in the fourth. Lyne drew a leadoff walk and trotted home on a double by junior Matthew Ronai. The Chargers scored in similar fashion, with run-scoring double of their own evening the score at 1-1
- The fifth, sixth and seventh innings went by scoreless. In the top of the eighth, however, Merrimack broke the deadlock. Sophomore Joey Porricelli doubled and scored on a single by senior Mike Hoalcraft. Lyne then doubled to plate Hoalcraft, and the combination of Lyne and Ronai came through again as the latter hit a single that scored the former. The Warriors took a 5-1 lead into the eighth frame
- Senior PJ Browne replaced Zappulla, and retired six of the seven batters he faced to shut the door. Merrimack added a marker on a sacrifice fly in the ninth, cementing the 6-1 victory
Rapid Recap (Game 2):
- Junior Daniel Amidon was tagged for four runs in the bottom of the third for the first scoring of the second tilt. Amidon lasted 4.1 innings, allowing five runs (two earned) before freshman Timmy Kalantzakos relieved the southpaw
- The Warriors scored one run each in the fifth and sixth frames, including the first career hit and RBI for freshman Mike Jamele, who knocked in sophomore William Keegan
- A single off the bat of senior captain Ricky Smith cut Merrimack's deficit in half, 6-3, entering the bottom of the eighth. New Haven broke the game open from there, however, scoring five times in the bottom of the inning to build an 11-3 advantage
Notes and Notables:
- Game 1: WP – Zappulla (3-1) | LP – Keyes (0-1) | S – Browne (1)
- Zappulla's Final Line: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
- Zappulla has now been the pitcher of record in nearly half of Merrimack's victories, owning a team-high three wins. The Staten Island, N.Y. native lowered his ERA to 2.87 on the season, throwing his longest outing of the year
- Lyne now has five consecutive two-hit games, and has posted multi-hit efforts eight times in the outfielder's nine-game hitting streak. With two doubles, Lyne moved into a tie for fifth in program history with 38 in his career
- Game 2: WP – Mestre (3-0) | LP – Amidson (1-2)
- Amidon's Final Line: 4.1 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
- Jamele's hit in game two was also his first career double, which resulted in the first run of Keegan's career
- Senior Matt Nicholson led the squad with three hits from the cleanup spot
Up Next
The Warriors will play at Assumption on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m., but will serve as the home in Merrimack's first divisional game of the season.
