Wike, Lanpher, Palyan Homer in Doubleheader Wins Over Sacred Heart

Links: Box Score (Game 1) | Box Score (Game 2)
 
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.– Home runs made the difference for the Warriors in both contests as Jenna Wike's opening home run gave the lead in the first game before Wike's home run in the sixth charged a come-from-behind victory for a sweep against Sacred Heart on Saturday.
 
The Basics
Score: Game 1: Merrimack 7, Sacred Heart 2 | Final
Score: Game 2: Merrimack 9, Sacred Heart 5 | Final
Records: Merrimack Warriors (10-25, 6-11 NEC), Sacred Heart Pioneers (13-37, 5-15 NEC)
Location: Martone-Mejail Field | North Andover, Mass.

Rapid Recap (Game One)

• In the first inning, Sarah Reisler worked a one out walk and stole second base, coming around the bases as Jenna Wike sent a home run to straightaway center for an opening lead.
• The Warriors added another pair of runs as Nicole Basil was hit by a pitch after a long at-bat, with the freshman getting tagged out on the force after a bunt by Catherine Kingman. Courtney Lanpher stepped in and sent a home run to left after a few foul balls went far, scoring two more.
• The Pioneers put a run back on the board after a bases loaded grounder allowed a run to come in to score on two hits before adding another run on a bases loaded sacrifice fly in the fifth.
• Merrimack boosted its lead in the sixth as Sofia Palyan was hit by a pitch with two outs to put a runner on. Madie Fornwalt came in to pinch hit for Basil and singled up the middle to put runners on the corners. Kingman went and sent a double to left, bringing in Palyan and moving Fornwalt to third. Both came in to score on a double to left by Courtney Lanpher to make it seven for the squad.

 
 
Rapid Recap (Game Two)

• Sacred Heart got on the board at the first opportunity with a run of four singles bringing in one run on a single to center.
• Merrimack responded in the bottom of the first with Lanpher hitting a double to center field. She was brought in on a bunt by Sarah Reisler that forced a close play at the plate that gave the Warriors the equalizer.
• In the top of the third, Sacred Heart hit a two run home run to take a lead by the same margin. The visitors added two more in the top of the fifth as a double brought in the lone base runner before a bases loaded single to right made it a 5-1 game.
• The Warriors started the rally in the bottom of the fifth with Viviana Bocanegra hitting a leadoff double to right center. Sydney Emerson pinch ran for her and came in to score on a double by Nicole Basil, who scored form second on a passed ball. Courtney Lanpher was hit by a pitch to give another base runner and was advanced on a bunt, coming in to make it a one-run game on a double to left by Jenna Wike.
• Continuing the momentum, Merrimack took a lead in the bottom of the sixth. Nicole Koshes stepped in as the first batter with a single to center before freshman Sofia Palyan clocked her first collegiate home run to left field to give the Warriors a lead. Courtney Lanpher singled to left and was joined on by Sarah Reisler who beat out an infield ball to third. Wike again stepped in for her second home run of the day to left field, bringing in Reisler and Lanpher for three runs to seal the victory.

 
Notes and Numbers

• Game 1: WP – Bry Michitson (4-8) | S-- Katelyn Thompson (5) | LP-- Sarah Lawton (9-16)
• Game 2: WP – Katelyn Thompson (3-7) | LP—  Jenna Pfister (0-2)

 
Up Next:
The Warriors will finish the series against the Pioneers with first pitch at home set for 12 noon on Sunday, May 1 where the team will celebrate senior day.   
    
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