| Matchup |
Merrimack (15-14, 8-8 NE10, 3-5 NE DIV) at
Bentley (15-12, 9-3 NE10, 5-3 NE DIV | AIC (14-19) |
| Date//Time |
Wednesday, April 18 (3:30) | Thursday, April 19 (3:30) |
| Venue |
DeFelice Field | Bedard Field |
| Multimedia |
Live Stats (Wed.) | Live Stats (Thur.) |
| Social Media |
Twitter // Instagram |
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College baseball program will play two single games this week entering the weekend, beginning with the Warriors' divisional opener at Bentley set for 3:30 p.m. tomorrow afternoon at DeFelice Field in Waltham, Mass. The Navy and Gold will then make a return trip to Springfield, Mass. to face American International in non-league action. First pitch at Bedard Field is set for 3:30 p.m.
Last Time Out:
- Merrimack won two of three games over the week against Saint Anselm playing at Holman Stadium in Nashua, N.H.
- The Warriors started the series off Friday night with a 5-4 walk-off win. The Navy and Gold entered the bottom of the ninth facing a 4-2 deficit, but scoring three times capped off by a walk-off walk drawn by senior Mike Hoalcraft
- Senior Anthony Lupi started Saturday's doubleheader with a seven-inning performance to guide the Warriors to the series victory. Lupi allowed just two runs, while junior Daniel Amidon pitched two clean innings of relief
- The Warriors' offense was led by sophomore Joey Porricelli, who hit .474 in four games last week, totaling a team-best nine hits and eight runs scored. The starting third baseman scored the game-winning run in Friday's win, scoring three of Merrimack's five runs in the game
'Mack Facts:
- Porricelli won NE10 Player of the Week, leading the Warriors to three divisional victories. Through 29 games – all of which he has started at third base – Porricelli has set career bests in runs (31), hits (43), doubles (11) and RBI (17). He is on pace to set a new career best in slugging percentage (.452), while his fielding percentage is up nearly 100 points from last year (.922)
- As a team, Merrimack's offense ranks second in the conference and first in the division by hitting at a .292 clip. The Warriors' 62 doubles sits second in the league
- Graduate student Tyler Lyne and Porricelli sit tied for second in the league in doubles (11). Junior Matthew Ronai sits fourth in the conference in average (.382)
- The Warriors ranks second in the NE10 in doubles plays (33) and are third nationwide in double plays per game (1.16)
- Multiple Warriors are nearing program milestones. Lyne needs three triples to set a new program record (15). Senior Matt Nicholson sits two homers shy of becoming the first Warrior in 14 years and fourth ever to reach 20 career homers. Classmate PJ Browne sits seven strikeouts away from setting a new program record (231)
Scouting the Falcons:
- Due to some site flips, Bentley has played its last nine games at its home facility and will complete a 13-game streak of home contests after this weekend. The Falcons have won six straight to move into third in the Northeast
- Bentley's offense hits at a .287 clip, led by four .300-plus hitters. Sophomore Max Troiani ranks third in the league in average (.383) and leads the conference with 13 steals
- Junior Brandon Grover headlines the powere department, recording four homers and 16 extra-base hits
- Classmate Luke Dawson has emerged as one of the premier hurlers in the league, striking out a conference-leading 69 batters entering the week. He leads the staff with 52.0 innings pitched
Scouting the Yellow Jackets:
- AIC is set to play Franklin Pierce tomorrow before taking on the Warriors Thursday. The Yellow Jackets have lost nine of their last 11 games, including a defeat to Merrimack two weeks ago
- AIC hits .252 as a team, led by a trio of .300-plus hitters. Matt Costanza paces the group with a .353 BA and 42 total hits
- Costanza is also the team's ERA leader (2.97) appearing in six games on the mound, including five starters
- As a whole, AIC's staff owns a 5.07 ERA through 33 games
Recent Series:
- Merrimack won two of three games last season against Bentley to win the season series. Junior Cam Monagle threw into the ninth inning of the series clincher, while Porricelli knocked in the game-winning run in walk-off fashion in Merrimack's first win
- The Warriors won the first of three scheduled meetings this season with the Yellow Jackets, 12-4
- Freshman Timmy Kalantzakos threw six innings to record his first collegiate win. Offensively, junior Matthew Ronai and sophomore Thomas Joyce combined for six of Merrimack's 12 RBI in the game
Up Next:
Merrimack will play Saint Michael's in a three-game set this weekend in Vermont. Saturday will be a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. and Sunday's tilt will be a single game with a noon first pitch
