Baseball Downed by Maine in Season-Opening Doubleheader

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

ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College baseball team opened its 2021 season on Saturday afternoon, hosting the University of Maine for a doubleheader at Greater Lawrence Technical School. The games were the program's first at their new home facility in Andover, Mass. Maine went on to win both games of the twinbill by scores of 9-2 and 4-1.

The Basics
Score (G1 – Nine Innings): Maine 9, Merrimack 2
Score (G2 – Seven Innings): Maine 4, Merrimack 1
Records: Merrimack (0-2) | Maine (2-0)
Location: Greater Lawrence Technical School | Andover, Mass.    

Rapid Recap (Game 1):

• Maine got on the board first with one run in the top of the second on a sacrifice fly. They then added five more runs over the third and fourth innings to take a 6-0 lead. The Black Bears hit a pair of home runs as part of the production
• In the bottom half of the fourth, Merrimack scored its first run of the day. Graduate student Joey Porricelli hit a leadoff triple, jogging home two batters later when classmate Nick Shumski singled him home
• Maine answered right back in the top of the fifth, however, scoring twice to extend its lead to 8-1
• The Warriors saw a runner reach scoring position in the sixth, but come not get sophomore Alex Haba home. They were able to score in the seventh, however, when senior Michael Jamele lined a single up the middle that scored junior Michael Golankiewicz. Merrimack had runners at second and third with two outs, but could not add on any more
• Maine scored once more in the ninth to make it a 9-2 margin. The Warriors received quality relief from sophomore Jack Collins and junior Wyatt Villella, who combined to throw the last four innings of the game, tossing one-run ball with five strikeouts

Rapid Recap (Game 2):

• A pitcher's duel played out in the early portion of game two. Graduate student Daniel Amidon took the ball for Merrimack, and allowed just one run over the first four innings with six strikeouts. His counterpart, Noah Lewis, did the same however as the score was tied entering the fifth
• Merrimack's lone tally came off the bat of Porricelli, who launched a solo home run into left field in the bottom of the third inning
• Amidon allowed the first three batters he faced in the fifth to reach, resulting in one run for the Black Bears. Junior Cedric Gillette replaced him, and after loading the bases, he induced a 4-2-3 double play that moved Gillette one out away from getting out of the jam. Maine knocked a two-run single into right field, however, to extended its advantage to 4-1       
• Merrimack's bats were quieted the rest of the way; the Warriors had one batter reach in the bottom of the seventh, but could not continue their rally

Notes and Notables (Game 1):

• WP – Sinacola (1-0) | LP: Zappulla (0-1) | S: Ruggiero (1)
• Senior Vin Zappulla started on Opening Day, recording four strikeouts over 3.1 innings in his season debut
• Merrimack's pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts; senior Timmy Kalantzakos joined Zappulla, Collins and Villella on the mound in the opener
• Junior Kurtis Stadnicki hit a double, joining Porricelli with an extra-base hit

Notes and Notables (Game 2)

• WP – Lewis (1-0) | LP – Amidon (0-1) | S: Pushard (1)
• Porricelli's homer was the 13^th of his career. He entered the year ranked seventh in school history in career home runs
• Amidon finished with six strikeouts over four innings; he now has 20 strikeouts over his last 11.1 innings thrown dating back to last season

Up Next
Merrimack and Maine play two more games tomorrow at Greater Lawrence Technical School tomorrow. First pitch of game one is set for noon.