Three-Game Set at Saint Anselm Awaits Baseball this Weekend in Manchester

Matchup	Merrimack (16-12, 5-1 NE Div.) at Saint Anselm (6-21, 1-5 NE Div.)
Dates//Times	Sat., April 13, 3 pm // Sun., April 14, 12 pm | 3 p.m.
Venue	Sullivan Park | Manchester, N.H.
Gameday Links	Live Stats (Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3) // Video
Social Media	Twitter // Instagram

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College baseball program looks to record its third Northeast Division series victory of the season this weekend when the Warriors play their annual three-game set against Saint Anselm College. The series begins with a doubleheader on Saturday at 12 p.m. followed by the series finale on Sunday, which also features a noon first pitch. All three contests will be played at Sullivan Park in Manchester, N.H.

Updated 4/13: Due to overnight rain Friday into Saturday, the series has been adjusted to a single game on Saturday (3 p.m.) followed by a doubleheader on Sunday (12 p.m., 3 p.m.). 

Five Things to Know:

• Merrimack utilized five first-year pitchers on Thursday, with freshman Cedric Gillette making his first career start and working five innings for his first career win in the Warriors' 11-5 triumph over AIC in non-conference play Thursday. Including victories over Bentley on Wednesday (11-0) and two over the Yellow Jackets on Sunday (9-1, 3-2), Merrimack is currently riding a four-game winning streak
• The Warriors' 5-1 record within the Northeast Division places the Warriors in second place, trailing 6-0 SNHU by just one game. Merrimack's overall record rests at 16-12 entering the weekend. Over its last 10 games, Merrimack owns an 8-2 record with separate four-game winning streaks bookending the run
• Offensively, senior Matthew Ronai jumped into an exclusive club this week by becoming the 10^th player in school history to record 100 career RBI. The utility player posted a three-hit effort yesterday with a pair of runs knocked in, increasing his season average to .294. The Preseason All-Region selection is tied for second on the team in hits (32) and ranks third in average
• The junior trio of Joey Porricelli, Thomas Joyce and Nick Shumski have also served as catalysts for Merrimack's bats. The triumvirate lead Merrimack in extra-base hits with 14 (Porricelli), 12 (Shumski) and eight (Joyce), respectively. Porricelli leads the team in total bases (62) and steals (20), Shumski paces the squad in RBI (24) and triples (4) while Joyce is the team leader in average (.327) and on-base percentage (.441)
• On the mound, a quartet of Warriors have emerged to lead the team. The sophomore tandem of Timmy Kalantzakos and Vin Zappulla have started a team-high seven games and are tied for the team lead in innings pitched (45.). The latter owns the most strikeouts on the staff at 32. The senior duo of Cam Monagle and Riley Sorenson have impressed as well. The former's 1.32 earned run average is the lowest on the staff and ranks fifth nationwide while the latter's four saves and 17.2 innings out of the bullpen leads all of the Warriors' relievers

Scouting the Opposition:

Merrimack (16-12, 5-1 NE Div.)	Stat Category	Saint Anselm (6-21, 1-5 NE Div.)
.262	Batting Average	.217
.350	On-Base Percentage	.339
.359	Slugging Percentage	.296
4.18	Team ERA	6.50
186	Team Strikeouts	207
57	Total Stolen Bases	34
.970	Team Fielding Percentage	.948
Thomas Joyce (.327)	Batting Average Leader	Oscar Larranaga (.280)
Porricelli (4)	Home Runs Leader	Two Tied (2)
Nick Shumski (24)	RBI Leader	Larranaga (11)
Cam Monagle (1.32)	ERA Leader (Individual)	Preston Yerrington (1.17)
Vin Zappulla (32)	Strikeouts Leader	Will Conaton (31)

Up Next:
Merrimack will play four home games next beginning with the Warriors' second divisional game against Assumption on Tuesday evening. The contest will be played at LeLacheur Park in Lowell, Mass. and begin at 7 p.m.