GNAC Quarterfinals Pits Baseball Against Lasell Thursday

THURSDAY, MAY 2 // 7:00 PM EAST BOSTON MEMORIAL PARK EAST BOSTON, MASS.
EYES ON THE GAME // LIVE STATS SERIES RECORD // SUFFOLK LEADS, 27-1 LAST MEETING // APRIL 14, 2018, W, 3-2 (8) LAST SUFFOLK WIN // SAME STREAK // W11

BOSTON – uffolk baseball opens its 20th straight GNAC playoff run with a Thursday, May 2 clash against fourth-seeded Lasell at East Boston Memorial Park. The top-seeded Rams begin their quest to capture its fifth consecutive title tonight under the lights at 7 p.m.

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2019 GNAC BASEBALL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

FIRST ROUND – TUESDAY, APRIL 30 / WEDNESDAY, MAY 1 – SINGLE ELIMINATION
Game 1: #3 Johnson & Wales defeated #6 Anna Maria, 7-0 - Box Score
Game 2: #4 Lasll defeated #5 Albertus Magnus (at Brandeis), 7-4 – Box Score

SECOND ROUND – THURSDAY, MAY 2 – DOUBLE ELIMINATION BEGINS 
Game 3: #3 Johnson & Wales at #2 Saint Joseph's (Maine) – 4:00 p.m. – Live Stats | Video
Game 4: #4 Lasell at #1 Suffolk – 7:00 p.m. – Live Stats 

SEMIFINALS – SATURDAY, MAY 4 – FRASER FIELD - LYNN, MASS.
Game 5: Loser of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4 (Elimination Game) – 10:00 a.m.  – Live Stats | Video
Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 – 1:30 p.m. – Live Stats | Video
Game 7: Winner of Game 5 vs. Loser of Game 6 – 5:00 p.m. – Live Stats | Video

CHAMPIONSHIP – SUNDAY, MAY 5 – FRASER FIELD - LYNN, MASS. 
Game 8: Winner of Game 6 vs. Winner of Game 7 – 12:00 p.m. – Live Stats | Video
Game 9: If Necessary – 3:30 p.m.

MORE READING: 2019 GNAC Baseball Tournament Central

TOURNEY PREP
Suffolk baseball fell to No. 7 Babson, 13-4, Monday afternoon at Giovani Field.

MORE READING: Wheaton Takes Down Baseball, 12-4

RAMS RUNDOWN
Suffolk (22-16-1) wrapped up its regular season conference calendar with a 14-2 mark to repeat as the league's top seed for the first time in program history. 

As a team, the Rams are producing a .306 connection rate at the plate led by Tim Brigham's .396 average. The junior outfielder holds team and conference leading numbers in hits (57), doubles (22), and total bases (88) with his squad-best 46 runs brought in landing second in the conference ranks. The sophomore duo of Blase Cormier and Will Hopkins are consistent contributors at the dish for the blue-and-gold as well. Cormier, who bats .348, has 47 hits, 29 RBI and 32 runs scored, while Hopkins, who's hitting .354, has recorded 46 hits, scored 36 runs, brought in 24 and swiped 18 bags.

Anthony Del Prete is likely to use his core four starting arms in Charles Batchelder (42.0 IP, 4.29 ERA, 29 K), Steven Rossi (38.1 IP, 3.29 ERA, 27 K), Kevin Sinatra (49.0 IP, 5.33 ERA, 29 K) and Worth Walrod (41.2 IP, 4.29 ERA, 49 K) over the playoff push. Parker Browne (24.1 IP, 2.84 ERA, 1 Save), meanwhile, will likely make an appearance over the playoffs stretch out of the pen. 

SUFFOLK IN THE GNAC TOURNEY

• Since joining the GNAC ranks in 2000, Suffolk has yet to miss a conference tournament and 2019 is no different.
• The Rams run for their fifth straight conference crown and ninth overall this week.
• Suffolk garnered a first-round bye for the first consecutive campaign, third season in the Del Prete era and 10th time overall since the league went into a play-in portion in 2002.
• The blue-and-gold is featured as the bracket's top seed for the second time in as many years and eighth time in program history.
• As the No. 1 seed, the Rams have gone on to claim three of their eight conference championships including the 2018 trophy.
• Overall, the Rams have played for GNAC glory in the title tilt on 16 occasions, including the last 12 years.
• In its 19 appearances in the league tournament, Suffolk sits 50-21 overall, 12-2 under Anthony Del Prete.

LASERS LOOK
Lasell (23-15) picked up fourth-place in the conference standings behind a tiebreaker decision over Albertus Magnus. The Lasers and Falcons each went 9-7 versus conference competition, but it was Lasell's sweep over Anna Maia March 30 that put the Lasers ahead of AMC. 

Lasell and Albertus Met in the play-in game Tuesday night and the fourth-seeded Lasers defeated the fifth-seeded Falcons, 7-4, to punch their ticket to double elimination action.

Andre Marcheseeault and David Marsell are the Lasers' leaders at bat with identical numbers in hits (42) and batting average (.368). Marchesseault has produced 19 RBI and a team-best 32 runs scored, while Marsell has brought in 18 runs and scored 22. Evan Michalek is an offensive threat as well with 38 hits, 16 RBI, 30 stolen bases and 29 runs scored. 

Zach Handezl headlines Lasell's arm is predicted to pitch Thursday. The junior holds a 4.43 ERA in 44.2 innings with 33 strikeouts. He faced Suffolk in game one of the regular-season twinbill and gave up three runs on two hits in just 1.1 innings of work. Davis Marsell, who has seen 36.2 innings, brings in a 4.95 ERA with 20 Ks, with Chris O'Connor (38.0 IP, 1.89 ERA) adding depth on the hill.

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Suffolk has won 11 straight versus Lasell including a regular-season sweep of the Lasers April 14 to move to 27-1 all-time in the all-time series.
• Under Anthony Del Prete, the Rams are 12-1 versus Lasell.

WE MEET AGAIN
In the regular-season, Suffolk swept the Lasers – defeating Lasell 7-3 game one and walked away with a 3-2, eight-inning victory in the nightcap.   

MORE READING: Baseball Nips Lasell, 7-3 in GNAC Series Opener | Baseball Walks Off in Eighth to Defeat Lasell, 3-2 

SUFFOLK VS. LASELL IN THE GNAC TOURNEY

• Suffolk and Lasell have been consistent quarterfinals rivals in the Anthony Del Prete era, meeting in each of the head coach's four previous tournament trips.
• In each such meeting, the Rams have come out on top including a thrilling, 6-5, 10-inning, walk-off win a year ago.
• When facing the Lasers in the postseason, the Rams are unbeaten all-time, 5-0.

EYES ON THE GAME

WHAT'S NEXT?
In the midst of the double elimination portion of the 2019 GNAC Tournament, Suffolk and Lasell will both continue their quests for GNAC Glory this Saturday, May 4 at historic Fraser Field in Lynn, Massachusetts. The victor of Thursday's tilt advances to the afternoon, 1:30 p.m., game and take on the winner of the No.2 Saint Joseph's (Maine), No. 3 Johnson & Wales matchup, while the losers of each tilt will meet in the opening game Saturday morning.