ST. BONAVENTURE (2-13, 0-0 A-10) vs MERRIMACK (2-13, 2-4 NEC)
Saturday, March 25 – Sunday, March 26
St. Bonaventure, N.Y. – Fred Handler Park
 
The St. Bonaventure University baseball team will open the home schedule against Merrimack in a three-game series at Handler Park at McGraw-Jennings Field this weekend. Saturday's contest will be a single nine inning game starting at noon, weather permitting, while Sunday's game will be a doubleheader beginning at noon with one seven inning game and one nine inning contest.
 
PUTNEY PUNCH

• Senior Jack Putney moved in to the leadoff spot this past weekend at Mount St. Mary's and delivered a 6-for-14 performance at the plate in the three-game series.
• Last Sunday, Putney went 5-for-6 with three runs batted in and hit his first home run of the season, leading off the game with a round-tripper.
• Putney provided the second five-hit performance of the year by a Bonnies player. Danny Manion went 5-for-5 at New Mexico earlier this year.

 
WATTS DELIVERS

• Left-handed starter Gabe Watts earned his first collegiate victory on the mound this past Saturday at Mount St. Mary's.
• The second-year Bonnie threw six innings and struck out a career-high nine batters while walking none. Eight of his strikeouts were swinging and one looking.
• Senior Liam Devine closed out Watts' great start, notching his second save of the season.

 
IT'S OUTTA HERE

• The ball was flying last weekend as The Mount and the Bonnies combined for 20 home runs.
• The Bonnies hit eight long balls with seven different players connecting for a round-tripper.
• Along with Putney, teammates Danny Manion, Jake Biscailuz, and Mark Darakjy hit a big fly for St. Bonaventure.
• In Saturday's win, Christian Szablewski hit a pair of home runs while Darakjy smacked his second long ball of the series. Jackson DeJohn also added a homer.

 
ABOUT MERRIMACK

• The Warriors have begun the season with a 2-13 overall record and 2-4 record in conference play, dropping their last game at Northeastern on Wednesday by a score of 11-2.
• Merrimack's two wins this season came against Delaware State.
• At the plate, Matthew Chatelle leads the Warriors with a .310 batting average and two home runs, while Michael Golankiewicz (.286 average) and Alex Haba (.281 average) are both tied in runs batted in with 11.
• Casey Hegan and Tyghe Healy have each made four starts on the mound and struck out 13 batters. Out of the bullpen, Michael Dragon has made five appearances and recorded a 2.08 ERA with four strikeouts.
• Merrimack was tabbed to finish fourth in the 2023 Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll - the school is in its final season transitioning to the Division I level, joining the D-I ranks from Division II back in 2019.
• Last season, the Warriors took a pair of games from the Bonnies in Florida, capturing game one, 5-2, before winning the nightcap, 9-1.

 
UP NEXT
The Bonnies begin conference play with a trip to VCU for a three-game series, beginning Friday, March 31. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
 
 
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