Links: Box Score
TEANECK, N.J. – Graduate student
Joey Porricelli belted his team-leading sixth home run of the season on Friday afternoon, but the Merrimack College baseball program lost by a 4-1 margin to Fairleigh Dickinson University in Northeast Conference (NEC) action at the Knights' Naimoli Family Baseball Complex.
The Warriors overall record fell to 12-16 (8-8 NEC) with the loss while FDU improved to 6-16 (5-11 NEC).
The Basics
Score: FDU 4,
Merrimack 1
Records: Merrimack (12-16, 8-8 NEC) | FDU (6-16, 5-11 NEC)
Location: Teaneck, N.J. | Naimoli Family Baseball Complex
Rapid Recap
- Porricelli drove a 0-1 pitch out of the ball park for a leadoff homer, staking senior starter Vin Zappulla to a 1-0 advantage. The fourth-year hurler sat down the Knights in order in the bottom of the first, and was aided by the double-play ball to keep the lead in Merrimack's favor through three frames
- The Knights had a runner reach third in the fourth inning for the first time, but Zappulla stranded him there. In the fifth frame, however, FDU was able to score to tie the game at one run apiece. A one-out single tied the game, and the hosts loaded the bases after that, but Merrimack's right-hander rolled up an inning-ending double play to keep the score at 1-1
- With the score still at 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh, the Knights took the lead. Zappulla gave way to graduate student Daniel Amidon after FDU loaded the bases with no one out. A two-run double then garnered FDU the lead, 3-1, and the Knights added another run on a RBI groundout. Amidon ended the inning with back-to-back strikeouts, keeping the deficit at three runs
- The Warriors put runners in scoring position in the top of the eighth, but were unable to score. Merrimack had its leadoff batter reach base in the ninth, but the team's bats were silenced after that to end the game
Top Performers // Notes
- WP: Kosowsky (4-1) | LP: Zappulla (3-3) | S: Medoro (4)
- Porricelli moved into the NEC lead with his sixth homer of the year; he entered the weekend in a four-way tie for first
- The long ball was the 18th of his career. He's within reach of becoming the fifth player in school history with 20 career homers
- Junior Michael Golankiewicz moved up to the No. 2 spot in the order, collecting his third multi-hit game of the season
Up Next:
The Warriors and Knights reconvene tomorrow for a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. at the Naimoli Family Baseball Complex.
