Baseball Falls in Extra Innings to Merrimack on Friday
The Central Connecticut baseball team fell to Merrimack, 14-10, in extra-innings on Friday in Northeast Conference action at CCSU Baseball Field. The Blue Devils dropped a back-and-forth affair in which each team held a four-run lead during the contest, but the Warriors would score four runs in the top of the 10th for the win.
GAME ONE INFORMATION
Score: CCSU 10, Merrimack 14 (10 innings)
Records: CCSU (10-6, 7-3 NEC), MC (9-11, 5-5 NEC)
Location: CCSU Baseball Field | New Britain, CT
Pitching Record: W: Amidon (1-4) | L: Niman (0-1) | Sv: - -
KEY MOMENTS
- Merrimack hit a two-run homerun in each of the first two innings to build a 4-0 lead. Nick Shumski hit a two-run homer to left in the first, while Joey Porricelli followed with a two-run shot of his own in the second. The Warriors would chase CCSU starter, senior Andrew Braun after just 3.0 innings and five runs.
- The Blue Devils strung together four straight hits with two outs in the second inning to push across three runs. Junior Peyton Stephens, freshman Hunter Pasqualini and sophomore Dan Covino each drove in a run to get CCSU within 4-3 after two innings.
- Central would score six unanswered runs in the fourth through seventh innings to build a four-run lead. Freshmen Noah Martinez and Jeff Nicol each drove in a run in the fourth inning to tie the game at 5-5. Martinez would give the Blue Devils a lead with a two-run homerun to straightaway center in the sixth inning. In the seventh, Covino would score on a double-play before Nicol drove in his second run of the day to make it 9-5.
- Merrimack bounced back with a five-run eighth inning. The Warriors loaded the bases with no outs and a hit batter would bring home the first run. Porricelli would single home another run before CCSU recorded the first out of the inning. A two-run double by Shumski tied the game before a RBI-ground out by Bryant Skurbe put Merrimack ahead 10-9.
- Central's first two batters reached in the ninth. With runners on the corners, freshman Michael Torniero would deliver an infield single to bring in the game-tying run.
- Porricelli led off the 10th with a double and moved to third on a sac bunt. After an intentional walk, Skurbe and Kurtis Stadnicki each drove in runs to make it 12-10. Michael Golankiewicz drove in two runs on a single to close out the scoring.
NUMBER TO KNOW
20 - Central collected a season-high in hits, collected by nine hitters.
NOTES
- Sophomore Dylan Benton came on in relief of Braun and tossed 3.0 innings of one-hit ball. He struck out three and walked none.
- Central had eight batters collect two or more hits in the game. Covino, junior Jay Devito and senior Dave Matthews each had three hits.
- Nicol went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two walks after entering the game as a pinch-hitter.
- Pasqualini and junior Sam Loda each went 2-for-3 with two walks in the game.
- CCSU had its most hits since collecting 22 in a 14-9 win at Mount St. Mary's on April 27, 2019.
UP NEXT
The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch for game one will be at 11:30 a.m.