Baseball Downed at Assumption in 10 Innings, 3-2

Links: Box Score

WORCESTER, Mass.  – For the third consecutive Northeast Division game, the Merrimack College baseball program went to extra innings as the Warriors and Assumption Greyhounds were tied at two-all through nine innings on Tuesday afternoon at Rocheleau Field in Worcester, Mass. The host Greyhounds had the last laugh, however, scoring once in the bottom of the 10^th to prevail in 3-2 fashion, claiming the divisional series between Merrimack and Assumption

The Warriors will still have a chance to play for a regular season title when Merrimack visits No. 15 Southern New Hampshire this weekend for a three-game set beginning Friday night. The defending conference champs enter the series opener with a 14-4 divisional record, matching the nationally ranked Penmen's Northeast mark through 18 games.

The Basics
Score (10 Innings): Assumption 3, Merrimack 2
Records: Merrimack (25-15, 14-4 NE Div.) | Assumption (25-16, 10-8 NE Div.)
Location: Rocheleau Field | Worcester, Mass.   

Rapid Recap

• Assumption benefited from a leadoff hit batsman to take an early 1-0 lead as the Greyhounds used a two-out single after the initial baserunner reached scoring position
• Senior Cam Monagle proceeded to keep the Greyhounds off the scoreboard for the next four frames, allowing just two baserunners during that span. Merrimack threatened to score in the top of the third, placing runners on the corners with two outs, but a fly out to center halted the opportunity
• The Greyhounds tacked on a second run in the bottom of the sixth, using a leadoff triple followed by a sacrifice fly to move ahead by two. Both the Warriors and Greyhounds went down in order in the seventh, ushering on the eighth with the score in the hosts' favor, 2-0
• Merrimack rallied to tie the game in the top half. Freshman Michael Golankiewicz and senior Anthony Garbarino hit consecutive singles, and advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Michael Jamele. Junior Joey Porricelli hit a sacrifice fly to right to account for Merrimack's first run, which also allowed Garbarino to reach third. The senior then raced home on a grounder by junior Nick Shumski, who reached base via a throwing error by Assumption's pitcher
• Monagle worked out of jams in the eighth and ninth to force extras. After two quick outs in the eight, the righty allowed back-to-back hits to put runners on first and third. He recovered, ending the inning on a fly ball to Golankiewicz in left. A leadoff single, sacrifice bunt and intentional walk gave Assumption two more baserunners in the ninth, but Monagle ended the threat on a pop out and another fly out
• Junior Dylan Stevens came on in relief in the 10^th and allowed the game-winning run. The Greyhounds loaded the bases, and scored the game-winning run via a hit by pitch

Top Performers // Notes

• WP: King (2-0) | LP: Stevens (0-2)
• Monagle's Final Line (ND): 9.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
• Monagle threw nine innings for the second straight start, increasing his quality-start streak to eight to move into a tie with sophomore Timmy Kalantzakos for the team lead
• Porricelli and Garbarino tied for the team lead with two hits apiece. Porricelli leads Merrimack with 18 multi-hit games while Garbarino became the fifth Warrior this year with at least 10 multi-hit contests
• Porricelli increased his reached-base streak to 27 straight games. The third baseman also boasts a nine-game hitting streak, tying senior Matthew Ronai for the longest on the team this season
• Golankiewicz also increased his season-best hitting streak to seven games with one single

Up Next:
The Warriors face No. 15 Southern New Hampshire this weekend for the a three-game series, which will decide who claims the NE10's Northeast Division Regular Season Championship. The series begins with a single game on Friday night at 6 p.m. followed by a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 3:30 p.m. from the SNHU Baseball Field in Hooksett, N.H.