Franklin Pierce and Merrimack Advance to NE10 Championship Game(s).
#3 NE Merrimack 5, #3 SW Le Moyne 2 - Box Score
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – It was déjà vu on multiple accounts for the Merrimack baseball program on Friday afternoon; not only did the Warriors win on the second day of NE10 Championship Weekend to reach their second straight conference championship game, sophomore Timmy Kalantzakos threw a complete game for the second time in as many seasons to punch the program's ticket. The Andover, Mass. native took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, relented just two hits overall against the host Le Moyne College Dolphins, and pitched Merrimack to a 5-2 victory at Onondaga Community College.
With the triumph, Merrimack moved within one victory of winning back-to-back league tournaments for the second time in school history and first time in more than two decades (1995, 1996). The program will also make a bid tomorrow to become the first defending champion to repeat since Franklin Pierce won three straight league tournaments from 2007-09. With one win Saturday, the Warriors will claim their fifth league championship in school history.
Kalantzakos was effective at keeping the ball in the infield for most of his outing, totaling 14 ground-ball outs. Merrimack's offense was aided by a pair of late-inning hits from juniors Thomas Joyce and Joey Porricelli to put the game away. The former roped a two-run double in the sixth inning that made it a 3-0 game, and the latter lined a two-out single with the bases loaded in the seventh that made it a five-run contest.
#4 NE Franklin Pierce 12, #3 SW Le Moyne 1 - Box Score
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - It was 12 runs on 14 hits on Friday night, in support of a stellar outing from junior right-hander Derek Duffy, as the Franklin Pierce baseball team fought off elimination again and forced its way into the championship day of the Northeast 10 Conference Championship. The Ravens posted a 12-1 win over host Le Moyne in an elimination contest at the Onondaga Baseball Complex.
With the win, Franklin Pierce – the fourth seed out of the Northeast Division – improves to 26-22 and extends its season another day. With the loss, Le Moyne – the Southwest Division's third seed – is eliminated and closes its season at 24-25.
Franklin Pierce advances to the final round of the NE10 Championship, which will commence at noon on Saturday at Onondaga Baseball Complex. The Ravens will have to face Merrimack – the Northeast Division's third seed – after the Warriors rang up a 5-2 win over Le Moyne in Friday's winner's bracket game. Franklin Pierce will have to defeat Merrimack twice on Saturday to claim the NE10 title.
�� | There may be no bigger guarantee in life than Timmy K sending the #MackBoys to the NE10 �� Game
— Merrimack Baseball (@MerrimackBSB) May 10, 2019
He did it last year. He did it today
One more W to win it all tomorrow...
�� | https://t.co/YVyqrNAbb4#MackBoys // #GoMack pic.twitter.com/fywTagvorM
2019 NE10 Baseball Championship
Tuesday, May 7th – First Round (single elimination)
Game 1: #4 SW Southern Connecticut 9, #1 SW Adelphi 6
Game 2: #3 SW Le Moyne 2, #2 SW Pace 1
Game 3: #4 NE Franklin Pierce 3, #1 NE SNHU 2
Game 4: #3 NE Merrimack 6, #2 NE Bentley 5
Thursday, May 9th (Hosted by Le Moyne at Onondaga Community College)
Game 5: #3 NE Merrimack 8, #4 SW Southern Connecticut 1
Game 6: #3 SW Le Moyne 16, #4 NE Franklin Pierce 2
Game 7: #4 NE Franklin Pierce 9, #4 SW Southern Connecticut 5
Friday, May 10th
Game 8: #3 NE Merrimack 5, #3 SW Le Moyne 2
Game 9: #4 NE Franklin Pierce 12, #3 SW Le Moyne 1
Saturday, May 11th
Game 10: #3 NE Merrimack vs. #4 NE Franklin Pierce - 12 p.m.
Game 11: If necessary - 3:30 p.m.
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 15 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.