Links: Box Score
RINDGE, N.H.  – The Merrimack College baseball program held leads of 3-0 and 4-3 on Friday afternoon at Pappas Field against Franklin Pierce, but the Ravens tied the game, 4-4, in the eighth inning and pushed the game-winning run across in the bottom of the tenth to claim a 5-4 victory in the series opener between the Warriors and Ravens.
The Basics
Score: Franklin Pierce 5,
Merrimack 4
Records: Merrimack (8-10, 0-2 NE DIV) | Franklin Pierce (14-8-1, 1-1 NE DIV)
Location: Pappas Field | Rindge, N.H.
Rapid Recap
- Merrimack struck first when sophomore Joey Porricelli scored on an infield single by junior Matthew Ronai. The designated hitter advanced to third on a throwing error, but was stranded there
- Senior Joe Westerman took the ball for the Warriors and struck out the side in the bottom of the first, working through five innings without allowing a run. The Warriors scored twice in the third on a sacrifice fly by Ronai and a double from senior Matt Nicholson to increase their lead to 3-0
- Holding that lead entering the bottom of the sixth, Westerman allowed a pair of homers including a game-tying two-run shot to even the score at 3-3
- Newly minted captain Tyler Lyne led off the top of the eighth with a double and scored two batters later on a single from Nicholson to push Merrimack in front, 4-3. With two outs in the bottom half, however, the Ravens tied the game again, 4-4, on a bloop single
- Sophomore Stephen Fleury took the hill in the bottom of the ninth, and struck out the final two batters after allowing a double to force extra innings
- A leadoff double and wild pitch put the game-winning run at third with no outs. The Ravens' John Friday flew out to Nicholson in right, who fired home to try to extend the game, but the runner slid in just before the tag was applied by senior Ricky Smith to win the game
Notes and Notables:
- WP: Matarazzo (3-1) | LP: Fleury (0-2)
- Westerman's Final Line: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
- Merrimack's starter entered the game without allowed an earned run in his last 13.1 innings pitched. Westerman extended the streak to 18.2 frames before allowing a solo homer with one out in the sixth
- Lyne scored Merrimack's fourth run of the day, which marked the 100th of his career. The fifth-year outfielder is now the 11th player in school history with 100 career runs scored
- Ronai and Nicholson knocked in all of Merrimack's runs. The former picked up two hits, increasing his average to .417 on the year
Up Next
The Navy and Gold return to Pappas Field tomorrow for a doubleheader against the Ravens beginning at 12 p.m. Â
