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baseball preview vs. endicott

Baseball: Against Nationally-Ranked Endicott, Warriors Look to Build Upon Sunday's Sweep

Team Records:
Eastern Connecticut: 22-11-1
Endicott College: 26-7

Series History: 
  •  Endicott leads, 4 games to 3, having won the last four after Eastern took the first three games in the series. Behind All-America, Alumni Hall of Famer and professional draft pick Ryan DiPietro, a lefty pitcher, Eastern won the first game in the series in 2003, 8-3, in the NCAA Division III regional tournament at Holowaty Family Field.
  • The Gulls' first win in the series came at North Field by a score of 4-1 in 2023. Endicott swept a doubleheader at Eastern, 9-5, 4-0, in 2024 and then pinned an 11-2 loss on the Warriors last year at North Field on the way to a berth in the NCAA Division III national tournament at Eastlake, OH.
  • In the 4-0 Endicott win two years ago – the only shutout in the seven-game series – John Connolly and Kyan Bagshaw combined on a two-hitter and TJ Liponis – a freshman that year and the team captain this year – swatted a two-out grand slam in the top of the ninth.
Recent Games:  
  •  Yesterday, Eastern ended a five-game losing streak – one shy of the all-time record set 48 years ago – with a 3-2, 9-2 Little East Conference sweep of the University of Massachusetts Boston that pushed Eastern's home record over .500 (7-6) this year.
  • The doubleheader featured a combined 12 HBP, 22 walks and seven errors.
  • After stranding five runners in the previous three innings, Eastern ended the first game with two runs in the ninth on three walks and a game-ending HBP with one out. Dylan Jackson was walked home for the tying run after opening the inning with a walk, and Teiger Kimbler was hit by a pitch on the eighth pitch thrown by reliever Alex Messig. Kimbler also had a bunt single (on an attempted sac bunt) that led to Eastern's first run in the sixth. Senior lefty AJ Rooks won his first career game with 3 2/3 innings of one-hit relief of Stephen Ricket (5 1/3 innings, four hits).
  • In the nightcap, Eastern scored nine runs on only seven hits, aided by seven walks, three hit batters and two wild pitches. First-year outfielder Chad Byrd's three-run single in the third gave Eastern a 5-0 lead in the third. No. 3 hitter Hank Penders also reached four times on two hits, a HBP and an infield errors and scored twice. Senior lefty Nicholas Furino – the third of six Eastern pitchers – improved to 2-0 with 1 2/3 hitless innings.
  • Since opening the season 1-4, Endicott is 25-3 and since losing two in a row, rides an eight-game winning streak into action today. The Gulls have scored in double digits in five games during the win streak, including 21 at Little East Conference leader University of Southern Maine and 30 in a  road sweep of Wentworth.
  • Endicott is coming off a Saturday sweep at Johnson & Wales University, with three pitchers combining on a four-hit shutout in the 7-0 second-game win. Matt Pappalardo (5-1) fanned eight without a walk in spinning a three-hitter over the first seven innings. Two Wildcat pitchers fanned 12 and walked only one in the loss. James Benestad had two hits, two RBI and scored two runs in the win and homered along with teammate Shea LaFleur.
Game Notes:
  •  Top Eastern hitters Ian Moser (.361), Matthew Carrera (.351) and Hank Penders (.338) have all started all 34 games for Eastern, with  Kimbler (.351) having started all 33 games in which he has appeared.
  • Carrera and Kimbler are a combined 38-for-42 in stolen bases and Moser, Penders and Lucas Malave have combined for 19 of the team's 28 home runs. The Warriors have out-homered their opponents, 28-7.
  • Junior lefty Joseph Barlovic (1-0, 4.37) may get the start vs. Endicott. Barlovic (1-0) has pitched 22 2/3 innings over nine appearances and has made five starts. He has fanned 21 and walked six.
  • As it has been in the past, Endicott's success this year has been built on defense (.973), pitching (2.74 ERA),  timely hitting (.285) and balance. James Benestad (.329), Brenden Walsh (.313) and TJ Liponis (.311), among regulars, are all above .300. Pitchers Kyan Bagshaw (0.73), Brady Stuart (1.61) , Matt Pappalardo (1.88) and Ben Gill (2.01) are all near 2.00 or below. Six pitches have at least one save, led by Bagshaw (4). The staff has combined on eight shutouts.
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