NORTH ANDOVER, MA – The College of Saint Rose bounced back from a tough 5-4 loss in the opener with a 3-1 victory in the finale to gain a split at Northeast-10 Conference rival Merrimack today at Warrior Diamond.

The Golden Knights (10-14/4-8 NE-10) received some outstanding pitching and senior second baseman Ryan Burke belted a two-out, two-run homer in the fourth to provide the difference in the second game. In the opener, Saint Rose allowed a 4-1, seventh inning lead to evaporate as the host Warriors (8-13/1-7 NE-10) scored twice in the eighth and two more times in the ninth to chalk up the victory.

Junior right-hander Alex Ferenti started the second contest and kept Merrimack in check. He gave up a run on five hits and whiffed four throughout 6.1 innings of work to run his record to 4-0 on the year. Meanwhile, sophomore southpaw Eric Hilton recorded four strikeouts throughout 1.2 innings of work, before giving way to freshman right-hander Ryan Harper who worked a perfect ninth to chalk up the fifth save of his young collegiate career.

Burke wound up 2-for-4, while senior right fielder Garret Keenan finished 2-for-3 with a run scored to record his 10th multi-hit game of the year. Junior left fielder Tim Curran went 2-for-4 with a solo shot in the fourth for Merrimack.

In the opener, Saint Rose jumped out to a 4-1 lead after five by pushing across a run both the third and fourth innings and a pair in the fifth.

Senior center fielder Ryan Price made it 1-1 in the third with a sacrifice fly that scored junior first baseman Daniel Marshall who led off the frame with a base hit. Saint Rose manufactured another run in similar fashion an inning later as a leadoff base hit by Keenan and a sacrifice fly by sophomore left fielder Caleb Gleason put Saint Rose up 2-1. In the fifth, Price and Keenan stroked back-to-back, two out RBI doubles.

The Golden Knights then had a chance to break it open in their half of the eighth, but they left the bases loaded which opened the door for the Warriors who made it 4-3 in the eighth and then won it in the ninth on an RBI base hit by sophomore designated hitter Joe Mantoni.

Keenan, Marshall and junior shortstop Jesse Burba had two hits apiece to lead Saint Rose; while Mantoni, sophomore center fielder Mark O'Flynn, senior shortstop Mike Dooling, junior right fielder P.J. Farnham, and sophomore catcher Beau Batchelor each recorded a pair of hits for Merrimack.

Looking ahead, both teams have noon conference doubleheaders on tap for tomorrow. The Golden Knights will entertain Adelphi at Bob Bellizzi Field at the Plumeri Sports Complex, while the Warriors will visit Saint Anselm in Manchester, NH

Box Score - Game 1, Box Score - Game 2