Bercume Reaches 200-Hit Milestone in 9-2 Loss to Southern NH

MANCHESTER, NH – Jeff Bercume became the second player in school history to record 200-career hits, but the Merrimack baseball team lost to Southern New Hampshire 9-2 Wednesday afternoon.

Bercume knocked a single to center in the fourth inning for his 200th career knock. He is 21 hits shy of the school record of 221 hits for a career set by Brian Macrina in 1999.

The Penmen broke open a 2-2 game with six unearned runs in the seventh inning, all with two outs, off Warrior pitchers Chris Pinette and Bill Humphrey. The big blast was a two-run homer off the bat of Jeff Giannino, which came immediately after Chris O’Neil doubled home a pair of runs.

Eight Warriors tallied hits, as the visitors had 10 knocks in all, but they left nine runners on base.

Merrimack evened the score at one in the fourth on a RBI groundout from Mike Andre, which scored Tim Curran who led off the inning with a single. After the Penmen made it 2-1 in their half of the fourth, the Warriors deadlocked it at two in the fifth, on a RBI single from Steve Buitkus, which plated Ray Walker with the tying run.

Pinette (2-3) went 6.2 innings, allowing six runs (one earned) in the game. The Warrior defense committed five errors in the loss.

Brad Monroe (2-4) got the win for the Penmen, allowing two runs in seven innings.

Merrimack (10-13, 1-8 NE-10) hosts Saint Anselm Thursday for a doubleheader beginning at noon at Warrior Field.