MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—The Barry Buccaneers (20-9) defeated the Merrimack Warriors 3-1 in baseball action at Feinbloom Field on Monday night.
Joel Keefe’s sacrifice fly, which knocked in John Servidio in the fourth inning, proved to be the difference in the game.
Bobby Hernandez (3-0) earned the win in his first start of the season. He went five innings, allowed just a run on six hits and one walk with five strikeouts. Mike Tomoleoni and Brian Milanes combined for four hitless innings and each struck out three. Milanes’ all came during a perfect ninth inning to record his fifth save.
The Warriors (2-8) struck first in the second inning. Mike Chandler led off with a double and came in on a sacrifice fly by Bob McCarthy.
The Bucs took the lead in the fourth. Andrew Frezza drew a leadoff walk from Warrior starter Ryan O’Rourke (1-2). Servidio then lifted his team-leading third triple of the season off the screen in center field to score Frezza and later came around on the fly ball by Keefe.
Keefe tacked on an insurance run in the seventh inning. Nick Shaw led off the inning with a single and scored on a base hit by Keefe.
Shaw, Yudelmis Hernandez and Chris Leon each had two hits for the Bucs.
O’Rourke worked 6.2 innings, allowing three runs on nine hits and four walks, while striking out seven.
The teams will conclude their two-game set on Tuesday, Mar. 25 at 6:00 pm at Feinbloom Field.
(03/24/2008 at Miami Shores, Fla.)
Barry 3, Merrimack 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Merrimack........... 010 000 000 - 1 6 1 (2-8)
Barry.................... 000 200 10X - 3 10 1 (20-9)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Merrimack - Ryan O'Rourke; Chris Smith(7). Barry - Bobby Hernandez;
Mike Tomoleoni(6); Brian Milanes(9).
Win-Bobby Hernandez(3-0) Save-Brian Milanes(5) Loss-Ryan O'Rourke(1-2) T-2:37 A-176
Weather: jubillent