Friday, April 17
Fairfield, CT
11:30 a.m.
Sacred Heart
10-21, 7-7
3
vs
2
Merrimack
14-19, 8-7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merrimack | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0 |
| Sacred Heart | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 3 | 9 | 2 |
More Than Baseball, Pioneers Claim Series Over Merrimack
4/17/2026 9:34:00 PM | Baseball
Fairfield, Conn. – Sacred Heart secured the MAAC series over Merrimack in an emotional return to the field, earning a 3–2 win in game one and a 6–1 victory in game two, highlighted by a complete-game performance from Ryan Parker.
Fairfield, Conn. – Sacred Heart secured the MAAC series over Merrimack in an emotional return to the field, earning a 3–2 win in game one and a 6–1 victory in game two, highlighted by a complete-game performance from Ryan Parker.
Records
Sacred Heart | 12-21 (9-7 MAAC)
Merrimack | 14-21 (8-9 MAAC)
Top Performers
Peter Link: 4-9, 2 R, 4 RBI, double, HR
JW Fitzgerald: 3-9, 2 RBI, double, triple
Ronan Donohue: 1-6, SB
Will Rudolph: 2-8, R
Jacob Schmutz: 3-7, R
Gavin Donohue: 3-6, RBI, 2 R, double, SB
Chuck Tallman: 0-2, R, RBI
Kyle Cincinnati: 2-6, 2 R, RBI
Ryan Parker: 9.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 5 BB, 1 SO
Bryan Matuschat: 6.1 IP, 8 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 4 SO
Christian Trantino: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO
Mitch Hawkins: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 1 SO
Hector Alejandro: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 SO
How It Happened
Game 1
Merrimack struck first with a run in the opening inning, but Bryan Matuschat responded with two strikeouts to limit the damage. He settled in from there, tossing a clean 1-2-3 second inning and adding another strikeout in the third to keep the Pioneers within striking distance.
Sacred Heart answered in the second as Jacob Schmutz singled and moved to third on a base hit from Gavin Donohue, who then stole second. Chuck Tallman grounded out to bring Schmutz home and tie the game.
In the third, Kyle Cincinnati singled and later scored on a double from Peter Link to give the Pioneers a 2–1 lead.
The Pioneers added insurance in the fourth when Will Rudolph singled, advanced into scoring position, and came around to score on another RBI single from Gavin Donohue, pushing the lead to 3–1.
Defensively, Sacred Heart turned a key double play in the fifth, started by Gavin Donohue, to end the inning and maintain momentum.
Merrimack got one back in the eighth, but the bullpen held strong. Christian Trantino and Mitch Hawkins each recorded strikeouts in relief, and Hector Alejandro closed the door in the ninth with a strikeout to secure the win.
Game 2
Ryan Parker set the tone early, working a clean 1-2-3 third inning as he cruised on the mound.
The game remained scoreless until the sixth, when Peter Link broke it open with a solo home run to give Sacred Heart a 1–0 lead.
Merrimack answered with a run in the seventh, but the Pioneers quickly responded in the bottom half. Gavin Donohue doubled down the right field line and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Chuck Tallman before Kyle Cincinnati drove him in with a single. Link followed with a base hit, and JW Fitzgerald delivered a two-run triple to center, scoring both runners and extending the lead to 4–1.
The Pioneers added insurance in the eighth as Gavin Donohue walked and stole second, Tallman and Cincinnati both reached, and Link came through again with a two-RBI single to push the lead to 6–1.
Defensively, Sacred Heart turned two key double plays, both started by Gavin Donohue and finished by Tallman and Cook, to end the eighth and ninth innings.
Parker completed the job in dominant fashion, tossing a complete game as Sacred Heart closed out a 6–1 victory.
Up Next
The Pioneers return to Veterans Park for game 3 against Merrimack tomorrow, April 17, at 1 p.m.
Records
Sacred Heart | 12-21 (9-7 MAAC)
Merrimack | 14-21 (8-9 MAAC)
Top Performers
Peter Link: 4-9, 2 R, 4 RBI, double, HR
JW Fitzgerald: 3-9, 2 RBI, double, triple
Ronan Donohue: 1-6, SB
Will Rudolph: 2-8, R
Jacob Schmutz: 3-7, R
Gavin Donohue: 3-6, RBI, 2 R, double, SB
Chuck Tallman: 0-2, R, RBI
Kyle Cincinnati: 2-6, 2 R, RBI
Ryan Parker: 9.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 5 BB, 1 SO
Bryan Matuschat: 6.1 IP, 8 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 4 SO
Christian Trantino: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO
Mitch Hawkins: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 1 SO
Hector Alejandro: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 SO
How It Happened
Game 1
Merrimack struck first with a run in the opening inning, but Bryan Matuschat responded with two strikeouts to limit the damage. He settled in from there, tossing a clean 1-2-3 second inning and adding another strikeout in the third to keep the Pioneers within striking distance.
Sacred Heart answered in the second as Jacob Schmutz singled and moved to third on a base hit from Gavin Donohue, who then stole second. Chuck Tallman grounded out to bring Schmutz home and tie the game.
In the third, Kyle Cincinnati singled and later scored on a double from Peter Link to give the Pioneers a 2–1 lead.
The Pioneers added insurance in the fourth when Will Rudolph singled, advanced into scoring position, and came around to score on another RBI single from Gavin Donohue, pushing the lead to 3–1.
Defensively, Sacred Heart turned a key double play in the fifth, started by Gavin Donohue, to end the inning and maintain momentum.
Merrimack got one back in the eighth, but the bullpen held strong. Christian Trantino and Mitch Hawkins each recorded strikeouts in relief, and Hector Alejandro closed the door in the ninth with a strikeout to secure the win.
Game 2
Ryan Parker set the tone early, working a clean 1-2-3 third inning as he cruised on the mound.
The game remained scoreless until the sixth, when Peter Link broke it open with a solo home run to give Sacred Heart a 1–0 lead.
Merrimack answered with a run in the seventh, but the Pioneers quickly responded in the bottom half. Gavin Donohue doubled down the right field line and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Chuck Tallman before Kyle Cincinnati drove him in with a single. Link followed with a base hit, and JW Fitzgerald delivered a two-run triple to center, scoring both runners and extending the lead to 4–1.
The Pioneers added insurance in the eighth as Gavin Donohue walked and stole second, Tallman and Cincinnati both reached, and Link came through again with a two-RBI single to push the lead to 6–1.
Defensively, Sacred Heart turned two key double plays, both started by Gavin Donohue and finished by Tallman and Cook, to end the eighth and ninth innings.
Parker completed the job in dominant fashion, tossing a complete game as Sacred Heart closed out a 6–1 victory.
Up Next
The Pioneers return to Veterans Park for game 3 against Merrimack tomorrow, April 17, at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Matuschat, Bryan (3-5)
L: Hunkele Nick (1-4)
S: Alejandro, Hector (3)
Batting:
2B: DeShiro Matt 1 ; Goode Chris 1
RBI: McKinnon Brett 1
Base Running:
RUNS: DeShiro Matt 1 ; Andrews Jack 1
SB: Andrews Jack 1
HBP: Cristino Greg 1 ; Hamilton Jayden 1
Batting:
2B: Link, Peter 1
RBI: Link, Peter 1 ; Donohue, Gavin 1 ; Tallman, Chuck 1
SH: Cook, Will 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rudolph, Will 1 ; Schmutz, Jacob 1 ; Cincinnati, Kyle 1
SB: Donohue, Gavin 2
CS: Fitzgerald, JW 1
HBP: Donohue, Ronan 1
PO: Schmutz, Jacob 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
RHP
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UTIL
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LHP
/ BaseballSacred Heart v Merrimack
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