THE BASICS:
- Score: Assumption 4, Merrimack 3 (F/10)
- Records: Assumption (13-11, 3-5 NE10), Merrimack (12-12, 6-3 NE10)
- Location: Worcester, Mass. (Rocheleau Field)
- The Lead: After stroking a single into left field to tie the game in the sixth, Matt Lonardo (Cranston, RI / Cranston High School) produced the game-winning hit to lead the Assumption Greyhounds to a 4-3 walk-off win over the Merrimack Warriors at home on Tuesday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- With two outs in the bottom of the 10th, Trevor McQuade (Westwood, Mass. / Xaverian) hit a ball to deep left field that went off the left fielder's glove, which allowed him to take second base. After Jake Hamel (Uxbridge, Mass. / Saint John's) was walked to set up a force at any base, Lonardo stroked a pitch to deep center field to drive in the winning run from second base to lead the Hounds to their first walk-off win of the season.
-Lonardo, who went 3-for-5 on the day, also produced the game-tying run in the sixth. After Hamel doubled to set up runners in scoring position, he hit a ball to left field in similar fashion, stroking the ball into the gap to tie the game at three.
-Assumption's pitching did everything they could to keep the team in it as well. Brendan Desautels (Holden, Mass. / Holy Name Central Catholic) went five strong innings but left with a 3-2 Merrimack lead after allowing three runs on four hits and five walks. The Warriors were able to gain the lead, 3-2, on a sacrifice fly and a double-steal attempt before Desautels left the game, but Patrick Harrington (Bedford, NH / Bedford High School) came in and shut things down, going four innings of relief and allowing only three hits and one walk but no runs while striking out three. Cole Chudoba (Oxford, Conn. / Oxford High School) came in and pitched a scoreless 10th after starting and throwing 94 pitches in six innings of work last Friday against Bentley.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Tuesday marked the Hounds' first walk-off of the season as well as Lonardo's first with the team. In his first year as a Hound, Lonardo is now hitting .267 with a .367 on-base percentage to go along with one home run, 18 RBIs and 15 runs. He went 3-for-5 with two RBIs against Merrimack.
- Hamel played well for the Hounds as well, going 2-for-4 with two doubles, one RBI and one run. He has at least one hit in each of his last four games, hitting 5-for-14 (.357) during that span.
-Desautels started and went five strong innings, allowing three runs on four hits. Harrington pitched four strong innings as well and did not allow a run, dropping his ERA to 1.17. In 23 innings so far this season, Harrington has allowed only 20 hits and has struck out 22.
-Cam Monagle started and went seven innings, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five. He entered the game with a 3-0 record and 1.07 ERA in 26 innings of work. Riley Sorenson earned the loss, allowing one run (zero earned) on one hit and two walks.
UP NEXT:
-The Hounds host American International in non-conference action on Thursday, May 4, at 3:30 p.m.
STAY CONNECTED:
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