MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (Feb. 22, 2018) – The Mercy College baseball team looks to improve upon their 3-1 start as they head down to Myrtle Beach to play five games in four days starting on Thursday.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Thursday, February 22nd – 5:30 p.m.
Records: Mercy (3-1), Stonehill (0-0)
Location: Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Date/Time: Friday, February 23rd – 10 a.m.
Records: Mercy (3-1), Felician (0-4)
Location: Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Date/Time: Saturday, February 24th – 12:30 p.m. & 3:30 p.m.
Records: Mercy (3-1), Southern N.H. (0-0), Southern Connecticut State (0-0)
Location: Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Date/Time: Sunday, February 25th – 9 a.m.
Records: Mercy (3-1), Merrimack (1-1)
Location: Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Scouting the Mavericks
The Mavericks are off to their best four-game start since 2014 after winning three of four against Barton College. Mercy exploded for 40 runs and hit .326 as a team in the four games and were led by a pitching staff that pitched to a 2.90 ERA. Leading Mercy at the plate was East Region NCBWA Hitter of the Week and ECC Player of the Week Anthony Murphy who batted .357 with a team-high two home runs and 12 RBI. Also contributing was sophomore John Mooradian who hit a team-best .563 and was named to the ECC Honor Roll. Senior Shaine Carpenter began his Maverick career with a .417 average in 12 at bats, driving in two runs with a home run. The pitching staff was led by freshman Jack Kelly and junior Kevin Tise who combined for 10 1/3 innings pitched with just three earned runs allowed and eight strikeouts.
Scouting the Skyhawks
Stonehill is coming off a 15-27 season last year and were picked fourth in the Northeast Division of the Northeast-10 Conference Coaches Poll. Over the course of the past eight years, the team has played in NE10 playoffs five times, earning their spot at NCAA East Regional two times, as well. The Skyhawks graduated six contributing seniors from last year, but return Patrick Hurley who pitched 36 innings last year and averaged 5.94 strikeouts per nine innings. Also returning on the mound is Michael Young who has appeared in 26 games in two year and has earned a 9-7 record with an ERA of 2.03. Leading the returners at the plate is Alex Hurley who appeared in 30 games last season and brought in 10 RBI.
Scouting the Golden Falcons
Felician opened their 2018 season down in Florida against Embry-Riddle with four losses. However, the Golden Falcons are coming off a season in which they finished 35-15 and qualified for the NCAA Tournament. Felician was picked second in the CACC South Preseason Poll and was ranked fourth in the NCBWA East Region Preseason Poll. The Golden Falcons are led by senior Jason Polgano who was tabbed NCWBA Division II All-American Honorable Mention. Polgano is a career .291 hitter with nine home runs, 109 runs scored, 82 runs batted in and 25 stolen bases. On the mound, he owns a 13-5 record and a 3.03 earned run average.
Scouting the Penmen
Southern New Hampshire enters 2018 after a 2017 campaign in which they went 43-11 and advanced to the NCAA East Regional Final. The Penmen closed the year ranked No. 6 in the NCBWA Division II Poll and opened up the first poll this season at No. 12. The Penmen return 32 letterwinners and return five starters from last year's team. Leading the returners is Ryan Sullivan who batted .267 with 12 home runs and 45 RBI, while Caleb Potter also comes back after posting a .309 average with six home runs and 40 RBI. The pitching staff will look to be led by Mitchell Powers who went 6-3 with a 2.30 ERA in 13 games a year ago.
Scouting the Owls
The Owls are coming off a 2017 season in which they went 27-16-1 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Owls were selected third in the Southwest Division of the NE10 Conference Preseason Coaches Poll after winning the division title last year. Southern Connecticut is led by Nick Lamberti who was named to the NCBWA Preseason All-Region team. Lamberti batted .384 with 24 RBI, 37 runs scored and 16 stolen bases a year ago.
Scouting the Warriors
Merrimack opened their 2018 season going 1-1 at Limestone. Eight of Merrimack's nine projected members of its starting lineup return after starting experience in 2017. The group is led by all-conferences selections in Matthew Ronai, Paul Buckley and Joey Porricelli. Returning in the outfield are Tyler Lyne, Matt Nicholson and Mike Hoalcraft. Nicholson enters his senior year with 13 career homers, the sixth-most in program history. Senior lefthanders PJ Browne and Anthony Lupi return to lead the staff. Browne had the most strikeouts on the staff and Lupi notched the lowest ERA among the starters.
