ANDOVER, MASS. – In a game that saw seven home runs, only one ended up mattering. Alex Haba stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the ninth and launched his fourth home run of the season, giving Merrimack College baseball the 12-10 win over Fairleigh Dickinson University. Haba ended up having four hits on the day to go along with three runs and two RBI's. Scott Elliott had three hits in his four at bats to go along with three RBI's. Michael Golankiewicz and Andrew Selima also both had three hits and two RBI's.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 12 Fairleigh Dickinson 10
Records: Merrimack (13-26-1) | Fairleigh Dickinson (20-25)
Location: Andover, Mass. | Greater Lawrence Tech
Rapid Recap
- The Warriors led off the top of the first with back-to-back singles from Haba and Elliott putting two runners on right out of the gate. Christian Gemelli then walked to load the bases with one out. The Knights got out of the inning without letting a runner cross home plate. Haba singled again in the second to put two runners on. Elliott then homered to give Merrimack a three-run lead. Fairleigh Dickinson added a run in the top of the third to go down two. Golankiewicz doubled home a run in the bottom half of the third to put the Warriors back up three. Selima then singled, home Golankiewicz making the advantage four. The Knights added two runs in the fourth to cut the lead back to two runs.
- Fairleigh Dickinson flipped the game in the fifth when they added four runs on five hits to go up by two. The Knights scored another run in the sixth going up by three. A home run in the seventh made the score 9-5 in favor of Fairleigh Dickinson. Jake Macchi singled to lead off the seventh. Gemelli then homered to put the Warriors down by just two. Golankiewicz doubled for the second time of the afternoon. Selima then singled, scoring the runner from second and making it a one-run game. The Knights added a run in the top of the eighth to go back up by two runs. Haba and Elliott hit back-to-back singles to lead off the eighth. Both advanced a base on a passed ball. A fielder's choice off the bat of Gemelli scored Haba from third and making it a one score game. Timmy Kalantzakos entered the game for Merrimack in the ninth. He allowed the lead off batter on, but did not let a run score in the inning. Golankiewicz led off the bottom of the ninth with his team leading seventh home run of the season, tying the game at 10. Selima singled. Stephen Santarpia then reached on a fielder's choice putting a runner on with two outs. Haba then stepped to the plate and launched one over the left field fence, winning the game for the Warriors.
Top Performers // Notes
WP: Kalantzakos(1-5) | LP: Medoro (2-4)
- Haba's single in the eighth inning marked his 100th career hit in a Merrimack uniform.
- The combined seven home runs is the second most in a Warrior game so far this season.
Up Next:
Merrimack gets back to action on Saturday afternoon for game two of the series with Fairleigh Dickinson. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
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