THE BASICS:
- Score: Merrimack 5, Assumption 1
- Records: Assumption (8-13, 1-5 NE10); Franklin Pierce (13-7, 3-0-1 NE10)
- Location: Worcester, Mass. (Rocheleau Field)
- The Lead: Assumption took an early 1-0 lead and reached base on a consistent clip throughout the game, but were unable to capitalize on it as the Hounds stranded 11 runners on base. Merrimack took advantage and pulled away with a 5-1 win.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Freshman Jared Brescia (Brentwood, N.H. / Exeter) led off the first inning with a single and was moved to second when classmate Matt Schneider (Dalton, Mass. / Wahconah Regional) dropped down a sacrifice bunt. Brescia then moved to third base on a wild pitch and was brought home by senior Jake Byrne (Grafton, Mass. / Saint John's) who singled through the right side of the infield.
- Junior Kyle Chudoba (Oxford, Conn. / Oxford) cruised through the first three innings on the mound, facing just one batter above the minimum, before running into trouble in the fourth. Merrimack produced three hits including two doubles in the inning to score two runs and take the lead.
- The Warriors added three more runs in the sixth to take a 5-1 lead. Assumption rallied to load the bases in the bottom of the ninth, as sophomore Alex Richardson (Rehoboth, Mass. / Bishop Feehan) beat out an infield single with two outs to keep the Hounds alive. Brescia then singled up the middle and Schneider followed up with a single to load the bases as the tying run stepped to the plate. Merrimack's Cam Monagle was able to coax a lineout to escape the inning and preserve the win for the Warriors.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Chudoba took the loss on the mound for Assumption, tossing 5.2 innings while surrendering five runs to go with three strikeouts. Freshman Ben Lambert (Saco, Maine / Thornton Academy) was effective out of the pen, pitching 3.1 scoreless innings while punching out four batters and walking none.
- Brescia led the way at the plate, finishing 3-for-5 with a run scored. Byrne went 2-for-4 with an RBI, including a ball smoked to dead center field that was caught at the wall in the fifth inning.
- Schneider went 2-for-4 as the designated hitter, while Richardson also recorded a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4.
UP NEXT:
- The Hounds return to action this weekend, as they take on Pace for a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 12:00 p.m., followed by a doubleheader on Sunday against Adelphi starting at 12:00 p.m.
STAY CONNECTED:
- For the latest on Assumption College Athletics, follow the Hounds via social media on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.