Baseball Sweeps Michigan State Saturday, 3-1 and 7-5

Links: Box Score (Game 1) | Box Score (Game 2)

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Behind a stellar eight-inning performance from graduate student Riley Sorenson and three-run ninth inning in the first game followed by a pair of three-run innings in the second tilt, the Merrimack College baseball program swept Michigan State University in a doubleheader at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C. on Saturday. Merrimack won the first game, 3-1, and prevailed in the second game, 8-5.

Sorenson scattered seven hits over his eight innings, and Merrimack's bats finally came alive in the ninth in the opener. Senior Joey Porricelli hit a leadoff double and came around to score on a single from sophomore Kurtis Stadnicki to bring the game even. Later in the inning, graduate student Cory Wasylow knocked in the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly and junior Thomas Crowley knocked in the third run with a double. The second game saw Crowley and classmate Michael Jamele combine for six hits to lead the seven-run attack.

Merrimack improved to 5-2 with the wins while Michigan State dropped to 4-3. The Warriors will go for the series sweep tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. back at Fluor Field.

The Basics
Score (G1): Merrimack 3, Michigan State 1
Score (G2): Merrimack 7, Michigan State 5
Records: Merrimack (5-2) | Michigan State (4-3)
Location: Fluor Field | Greenville, S.C.    

Rapid Recap (Game 1):

• Merrimack's offense was stymied to start, only generating one baserunner over the first three innings. The Spartans scored their lone run off Sorenson in the bottom of the third to take a 1-0 lead
• After a leadoff single to start the fourth, Sorenson did not allow to a hit over the remainder of his outing to keep Merrimack in the game. He ended the sixth, seventh and eighth innings with punch outs
• Three of Merrimack's four hits on the game came in the top of the ninth. Porricelli double and then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by classmate Nick Shumski. Senior Thomas Joyce was hit by a pitch to precede Stadnicki's RBI, and scored on Wasylow's sacrifice fly. Crowley stepped to the dish next and hit a double to the left-center gap, scoring Stadnicki
• Sophomore LT Pare entered in the bottom of the ninth and closed the door, working around a leadoff walk by ended the game on a six-four-three double play

Rapid Recap (Game 2):

• Merrimack once again came from behind in the night cap. Facing a 3-1 deficit to start the fourth, the Warriors saw Jamele hit a one-out double to knock in sophomore Wyatt Villella. A wild pitch on the next at-bat allowed Crowley to sprint home from third, and Jamele finished the triumvirate of runs by scoring on a fielding error to give Merrimack a 4-3 lead
• Michigan State pushed one across in the bottom half to tie the game, 4-4. Sophomore starter Cedric Gillette powered through the rest of his outing, putting down six of the final seven batters he faced to complete six innings of work
• The Warriors scored three more times in the top of the sixth to give Gillette the win. Three of Merrimack's first four hitters reached to load the bases, and all three came around to score on a single from Shumski. A fielding error in right enabled Porricelli to touch home all the way from first and make it a 7-4 game
• Freshman Justin Butera excelled again out of the bullpen, recording his second straight three-inning save in as many innings. Butera retired six straight to start the outing, and relented just one run in the bottom of the ninth before securing the win

Notes and Notables (Game 1):

• WP – Sorenson (1-0) | LP: Olson (0-1) | S: Pare (3)
• Sorenson's Final Line (W): 8.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
• Merrimack's right-handed captain threw the longest outing on the young season for the Warriors, and posted the second most strikeouts in a game for his career. The win gave Sorenson the 10^th of his career
• Pare has now saved three of Merrimack's five wins. He's already one save shy of matching the most saves of any Warriors reliever from last season
• Two of Merrimack's four hits went for extra bases; Crowley and Porricelli hit one double each, both coming in the ninth frame

Notes and Notables (Game 2)

• WP – Gillette (2-0) | LP – Heikkinen (1-1) | S: Butera (2)
• Jamele tied his career high with three hits. After starting the year 1-for-14, the junior is hitting over .500 (5-9) over his last three games
• Crowley totaled four hits on the day with a three-hit effort in the finale
• Butera has now allowed just one run over his first two collegiate appearances

Up Next
Merrimack returns to action on Sunday afternoon to complete the four-game set. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Fluor Field.