Baseball Readies for GNAC Weekend Against Norwich, Rivier

BOSTON – Coming off its second straight victory, the Suffolk baseball team turns its attention to GNAC play as it entertains Norwich Saturday, April 8, before facing off against Rivier Sunday, April 9. Both doubleheaders, which will be played at East Boston Memorial Park, will begin at 1 p.m. 

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LAST TIME OUT
Behind a stellar performance from Ryan Pordes on the mound, the Suffolk baseball team secured its second straight victory as the Rams defeated UMass Boston, 3-1, Wednesday night at Monan Park in non-conference action.  

MORE READING: Baseball Takes Down UMass Boston, 3-1

RAMS RUNDOWN
Suffolk leveled its record at 6-6 right before conference competition opened up with its second straight triumph, a 3-1 victory at UMass Boston April 5. 

The Rams' average (.270) and on-base percentage (.368) sit fourth in the league, while their .377 slugging percentage comes in at third. Individually, Seth Coiley's .400 average, which lands fifth in the conference, leads the way as the junior outfielder has brought in four runs off 12 hits and scored three himself. Leadoff hitter Brady Chant hits .345 to lead the team in RBI (10) and hits (19), which tie for sixth and fourth, respectively, in the conference. The junior centerfielder has eight extra bases hits including four doubles and three triples, and has seven runs on his stat line. Luke Ronchi paces the pack with 10 runs scored to go along with 15 hits and nine RBI. 

On the mound, Suffolk has three arms in the top five in ERA with the Rams' staff's 4.27 ERA sitting second in the league. Worth Walrod is first on the team, second in the league, at 2.00, Chuck Gibson lands third in the conference and second on the team at 2.37, while Ryan Pordes rounds out the trio in fifth in the conference and third on the team at 2.67. 

Pordes has dealt a team-high 27.0 innings, the second-most amongst arms in the league. The junior is 2-0 on the season in three starts and four appearances, with 15 a team-best strikeouts. Gibson, meanwhile, has 12 Ks to his credit and is also 2-0 on the mound in two starts. 

CADETS CATCH UP
Norwich will take the diamond for the first time in April when it travels to Boston Saturday. The Cadets last outing, a doubleheader split with Main at Preque Isle March 26, with both games going into extras, put the team at 5-11 on the season. 

Norwich lands on the lower end of the offensive statistics in the league with the Cadets average (.268) and slugging percentage (.345) ringing in at fifth and their on-base percentage (.333) clocking in at sixth. Just two players have seen action in every game for Norwich with Kevin Lynch's bat leading the way. The everyday starter in the outfield brings in a .356 average, and team-high numbers in hits (16) and runs scored (10). Eddie Gates owns the top number in RBI (10), hitting .391 in 23 plate appearances with five runs scored. 

The Cadets staff has used five different starters this season with Kaleb Smith, Billy Whaley and Kyle Farquharson each earning the nod four times. Whaley has the most experience with 21.0 innings to his credit and holds a 4.71 ERA, while Smith, who worked 21.0 innings on the bump, carries the lowest ERA of the trio at 4.35. Farquharson rounds out the bunch with a 5.21 ERA in 19.0 innings of action. 

EYES ON THE GAME

RAIDERS REVIEW
Rivier, who plays at Johnson & Wales Saturday before hosting Suffolk on the Rams' home field Sunday, is 1-11 on the season with its lone win coming March 6 over Elms, 8-3. 

The Raiders, who are on a nine-game skid, are on the bottom in the league in nearly every offensive category;' batting average (.202), on-base percentage (.316) and slugging percentage (.242), while Rivier's pitchers 10.74 ERA also is the lowest in the conference. 

Tyler Ferdinand is the leading bat for the Raiders, hitting .314 with 11 hits, four RBI and five runs scored. Jacob Rayner, who averages .237, leads the way in RBI with seven, while Brendan Sullivan is the leader in runs scored with eight. 

On the hill, Kyle Flanagan is Rivier's starter with the lowest ERA of 4.60 in 15.2 innings of action and a team-high nine strikeouts. 

EYES ON THE GAME

GNAC CORVIAS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Brady Chant of the Sufoflk baseball team has been named GNAC Corvias Player of the Week after his game-winning, two RBI triple at Salem State, the league office announced April 3. 

MORE READING: Chant Collects GNAC Corvias Player of the Week 

GNAC CORVIAS PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Ryan Pordes of the then-No. 24 Suffolk baseball team was selected as the GNAC Corvias Pitcher of the Week, the league office announced March 20. 

MORE READING: Pordes Picks Up GNAC Corvias Pitcher of the Week 

COMING UP
Suffolk heads out on the road and steps out of conference action when it stops by Curry and Eastern Connecticut State Tuesday, April 11 and Wednesday, April 12, respectively.