BOX SCORE (PDF)
BROOKLINE, Mass. - In their second midweek game of the week the Northeastern baseball team (9-7-1) took down Merrimack (2-8-1) by a score of 7-1 at Friedman Diamond on Wednesday afternoon.
The Huskies posted their season high in runs scored at home this season, with five different batters notching RBIs.
- Northeastern got on the board early in the bottom of the first with a two-out, solo shot to left field by Mike Sirota, his third homer of the season.
- Merrimack answered back in the top of the second with an RBI double to left field to tie it 1-1.
- The Huskies would tack that one-run lead right back on in the bottom of the inning - Jeff Costello hit a two-out double and Spenser Smith hit him home with an RBI single to retake the lead.
- Sirota followed up his flashy offense with a diving catch in the top of the third to rob a base hit in shallow center field.
- Northeastern scored again in the bottom of the fifth when a bunt-single by catcher Teddy Beaudet advanced Smith two second after he walked to lead off the inning. After a groundout by Justin Bosland advanced the runners into scoring position, Mark Darakjy hit a deep single to left field, scoring both runners for the 4-1 lead.
- The Huskies added another in the sixth - Max Viera led off with a single up the middle and his fifth steal of the year to get to second. Then an RBI single by Smith sent him home for the 5-1 lead.
- A double by Merrimack in the top of the eighth spelled trouble for the Huskies but a line-out double play was able to quell the Warriors' offensive surge. A ball hit to Viera at third base was caught for the first out, and Viera threw to Luke Beckstein at second to get the runner returning to the bag. After a pitching change, another shallow hit to center was robbed by Sirota with another dive.
- The Huskies added on more insurance in the bottom of the inning - another single and steal by Viera got him in scoring position and an opposite-field double by Costello sent him home. On a ground out by Smith, Costello advanced to third. A well-placed single by Beaudet then sent him home, making the score 7-1.
- Dennis Colleran would finish out the game for the Huskies getting two strikeouts and a flyout. His day ended going 1.1 innings with no hits, one walk, and the two Ks.
- Northeastern got a start out of bullpen pitcher Michael Gemma who earned the win after four innings of work - he allowed just two hits, one unearned run, and struck out two.
- Also coming out of the bullpen in relief were Owen Langan (2.0 IP, 0H, 0R, 2K) and Nick Davis (1.2 IP, 2H, 0R).
The Huskies will finish up their home-stand this Friday, March 18th with a double header with Holy Cross at Friedman Diamond. First pitch for game one is at 11am on FloBaseball. The two teams will then travel to Brown University on Sunday for a Brown double-header, with the Bears taking on the Crusaders in game one, and the Huskies in game two.
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