Baseball to Host Mass Maritime, Visit WPI

SUFFOLK vs. MASS. MARITIME
Date Time Venue Video Stats Program Series Last Meeting   Last Suffolk Win Streak	Tuesday, March 19 3:30 PM East Boston Memorial Park East Boston, Mass. CCC Sports Network GoSuffolkRams.com GoSuffolkRams.com 12-6 April 12, 2018, W, 3-1 Same W2

SUFFOLK vs. WPI
Date Time Venue Video Stats Series Last Meeting   Last Suffolk Win Streak	Wednesday, March 20 3:30 PM NEBC Northboro, Mass. NEWMAC Sports Network GoSuffolkRams.com 12-15 March 20, 2023L, 13-10 1999, W, 19-2 L4

BOSTON – Back from its Spring Training Trip, Suffolk baseball returns to action with back-to-back battles before conference competition starts this weekend. The Rams will entertain Mass. Maritime at East Boston Memorial Park Tuesday, March 19 before traveling to Northboro, Massachusetts Wednesday, March 20 for an outing against WPI. Both outings are scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.  

SOCIAL SAYINGS
Ram Nation has a chance to keep up with all the latest news and notes on Suffolk Athletics, its student-athletes and teams by following the Rams on  Facebook, Instagram and X. Fans are encouraged to use the hashtag #RamNation a behind-the-scene look at Suffolk Athletics.

LAST TIME OUT
Suffolk baseball wrapped up its time at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational on a high note as the Rams bested Saint Joseph's (Maine), 7-6, in game two of a double feature Friday night at Lake Myrtle Park.  

MORE READING: Baseball Holds Off Saint Joseph's (Maine) in Nightcap, 7-6 

RAMS RUNDOWN
At 8-3, Suffolk is off to its best start since 2016 when it compiled an identical record through 11 games to get the season underway.  

The Rams have put up 103 runs over 11 games on 107 hits, 31 of which were good for extra bases in 19 doubles, seven triples and five jacks. Harry Painter leads the way at the dish with a team-high in hits (17), RBI (15) and runs scored (14) behind a slash line of .395/.491/.698. Jonny Gilbride shares the top numbers in RBI (15) and runs scored (14) with paint to go along with 14 hits on a .326 connection rate at the plate. Garret Roberts has supplied 15 hits, good for second on the squad, on a .395 connection rate at the dish.  

On the hill, Brett Bucklin (13.0 IP, 3.46 ERA, 7 K), Pierce Salbego (18.2 IP, 4.82 ERA, 21 K), Harry Painter (5.0 IP, 5.40 ERA, 6 K) and Roberts (15.0 IP, 10.80 ERA, 13 K) make up the Rams starting rotation.  

BUCCANEERS BREAKDOWN
Mass. Maritime swept Rivier in a double feature Sunday to carry a 4-7 ledger into Tuesday's tilt. 

AJ Pietrafesa has been crucial offensively for the Buccaneers with 25 hits behind a .641 batting average with 13 RBI and 11 runs scored. Michael Estrada has added 14 hits, 10 RBI and eight runs, while Brett Velzis has chipped in 10 hits, 11 RBI and nine runs scored.  

Jay Loeffler is the most well-rested starting arm for MMA. He has scattered 8.0 innings over three appearances, one start and owns a 5.63 ERA and 10 strikeouts.  

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Suffolk renews a rivalry with Mass. Maritime, meeting for the first time since April 12, 2018. The blue-and-gold won that game, 3-1. 
• The Rams have won back-to-back games against the Buccaneers to move to 12-6 all-time against MMA. 
• Suffolk will host MMA in Eastie for the first time. 
• Under Anthony Del Prete's guidance, the Rams are unbeaten, 2-0, against Mass. Maritime. 

EYES ON THE GAME

EYES ON THE ENGINEERS 
WPI fell at Nichols in 10 innings Sunday, 12-10 to move to 9-3 on the year. The Engineers will host Roger Williams Tuesday, March 19 before battling Suffolk Wednesday.  

Tommy Burns has been the most powerful producer at the plate with 19 hits on a .422 batting average with a team-high 21 RBI and 16 runs scored. Andrew Cash has notched 18 hits, 12 RBI and 12 runs. Jacob Hand rounds out the top three batting threats with 16 hits, 14 RBI and 22 runs scored.  

The Engineers have used seven different starters this season. Noah Pins (13.1 IP, 1.35 ERA, 20 K), Dominic Monico (6.0 IP, 4.50 ERA, 3 K), Owen Radcliffe (14.0 IP, 6.43 ERA, 10 K) and Luke Frauton (6.0 IP, 12.0 ERA, 3K) may likely get the nod for WPIs midweek matches. 

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Suffolk and WPI renewed a rivalry a year ago, March 20, 2023, meeting for the first time since 2009. 
• The Rams fell to the Engineers in the last meeting, 13-10. 
• The blue-and-gold has lost four straight games versus WPI. 
• Overall, Suffolk sits 12-15 all-time against WPI. 
• The last time the Rams took down the Engineers was in 1999 when Suffolk put together a 19-2 triumph in Cape Coral, Florida. 
• Suffolk has yet to take down WPI in the Del Prete era, 0-1. 

EYES ON THE GAME
 

SUFFOLK'S SCHEDULE
The Rams begin their Commonwealth Coast Conference calendar at Nichols Saturday, March 23. Game one of the league twinbill is scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m.