| Matchup |
Merrimack (16-14, 9-8 NE10, 4-5 NE DIV) at
Saint Michael's (6-21, 1-10 NE10, 1-8 NE DIV) |
| Date//Time |
Saturday, April 21 (1 | 4 p.m.) // Sunday, April 22 (12 p.m.) |
| Venue |
Doc Jacobs Baseball Field (Colchester, Vt.) |
| Multimedia |
Live Stats |
| Social Media |
Twitter // Instagram |
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Set to complete another Northeast Division series this weekend, the Merrimack College baseball program will make its biannual trip to Colchester, Vt. for a three-game set with Saint Michael's College. The two programs will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. followed by a single game on Sunday at noon. The Navy and Gold enter the weekend with wins in eight of their last 10 games
Last Time Out:
- For the third time this season, the Warriors scored at least 18 runs in Merrimack's 18-4 thrashing at Bentley
- Merrimack recorded the victory in the series opener, needing one more win over the final two games between the programs to wrap up the series win
- Juniors Cory Wasylow and Anthony Garbarino each posted career days at the plate. The former set a career best with four hits and four RBi while the latter also collected a career-high four-hit performance, knocking in a personal-best three runs
- Coming off his NE10 Player of the Week selection, sophomore Joey Porricelli reached base five times from the leadoff spot, on two hits, two walks and an error. He hit his team-high tying third triple of the season
- Junior Daniel Amidon picked up the win, working the first six innings. Redshirt-junior Garrett Hudson and juniors Cam Monagle and Riley Sorenson each threw clean frames of relief
'Mack Facts:
- Junior Matthew Ronai ranks third in the conference in hitting (.389), leading the Warriors through 30 games. He has hit safely in 25 games this year including 14 multi-hit games
- Porricelli moved into fifth in the NE10 on Wednesday, picking up his 12th steal of the season. Both Porricelli and graduate student Tyler Lyne are tied for second in the NE10 with 11 doubles.
- As a team, Merrimack's offense ranks second in the conference and first in the division by hitting at a .296 clip. The Warriors' 64 doubles sits third in the league
- The Warriors rank second in the NE10 in doubles plays (34) and are also second nationwide in double plays per game (1.13)
- 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 Purple Knights:
- Saint Michael's snapped a six-game losing streak with a 13-9 win against Southern Vermont on Wednesday. The Purple Knights had lost their previous six divisional games entering the week
- The Purple Knights boast a young roster, totaling 16 freshmen. Their three innings leaders are all newcomers, led by redshirt-freshman Paul Prue. Prue boasts a rotation-leading 2.81 ERA and is tied for the team lead with 30 strikeouts over 32.0 innings
- Junior Trevor Allen is the team's leading hitter with a .866 OPS, three homers and 18 RBI. Classmate Joe Robertson edges Allen for the team high in batting average (.292)
Recent Series:
- The Warriors swept Saint Michael's last season at home. Two years ago, the Navy and Gold took two of three games from the Purple Knights in Colchester
- Senior Anthony Lupi took a perfect game into the fifth inning of the series opener in 2017, while senior Ricky Smith knocked in the go-ahead run in the second game in the seventh
- The Navy and Gold completed the sweep by scoring six runs in the first two innings of the series finale. The Purple Knights made it close, but the Warriors hung on for a 7-6 win
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
