Baseball clinches Regular Season Title

Baseball clinches Regular Season Title
by Seth Rothman
May 20, 2007

HAMDEN — There is one aspect of any baseball team necessary to win championships in the playoffs.

Pitching.

Sophomore pitchers Chris Gloor, Andy Mayer, and Joe Duffy are part of that necessary component that may lead Quinnipiac on their quest to return to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years.

The Bobcats seem to be following the mold of their counterparts from the 2005 season. That team had sensational juniors Chris Wakefield and Pat Egan lead the team to a regular season title and a Northeast Conference Tournament Championship. Back then, head coach Dan Gooley told his team everyday during the tournament, “We are here to win a Northeast Conference Tournament Championship. Period.”

It is time to revisit that phrase.

After taking three of four from Mount St. Mary’s last weekend to get even in the NEC standings, Quinnipiac needed any mixture of 4 wins and 4 Mount St. Mary’s losses to clinch the NEC title. While The Mount was finishing a four game sweep of Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday, Quinnipiac was attempting to sweep Sacred Heart in Hamden. Before game 4 of their series began, they knew they needed the final game of the regular season to go their way to clinch the NEC Regular Season title.

Mission Accomplished.

Quinnipiac defeated Sacred Heart 7-6 in a game as wild as its score. Duffy was uncharacteristically shaky, allowing five earned runs in 3 innings. The bullpen, however, delivered its normal stellar performance. Earlier in the day, junior Tyler Brett delivered 4 innings of superb relief work to help Quinnipiac capture a 9-7 win. So, in game two of the doubleheader, it was junior Eric Bretscher’s turn to hold Sacred Heart off the scoreboard. For 4 innings, he did, scattering only two hits and two walks while striking out three to earn the win.

The offense on this Quinnipiac team has been splendid all season, and this weekend was no exception. With the score tied at 6 in the 4th inning of game 2, Jeff Mainetti came to the plate. Mainetti, a senior from Guilford, CT, drilled his 11th home run of the season over the left field wall to give the Bobcats their final cushion, and the regular season championship.

Quinnipiac finishes the regular season 29-16 (21-7 NEC). The conference win total is a new school record.

The team is back in action on Thursday at the Northeast Conference Tournament when they face off against Central Connecticut State University at New Britain Stadium. WQAQ Sports will be there all weekend as part of the Quinnipiac Bobcats Sports Network; Matt Janik and Kevin Sokolski will have the call. Please visit the “WQAQ Sports Broadcast Schedule” page for information on how to connect to the broadcasts.

Thursday morning, on the way to the ballpark, you can be sure Quinnipiac head coach Dan Gooley will have one message for his team.

“We are here to win a Northeast Conference Tournament Championship. Period.”

Jeff Mainetti named WQAQ Sports Athlete of the Week

WQAQ Sports names Jeff Mainetti Athlete of the Week

The WQAQ Sports Department named senior baseball first baseman Jeff Mainetti as its Athlete of the Week for the week ending on April 11, 2007.

Mainetti had a week to remember this week, in what has been a season to remember for the Guilford, CT native. He smacked a home run in the Bobcats 15-1 trouncing of NEC foe Fairleigh Dickinson in game 2 of Saturday’s doubleheader. Mainetti also laced two homers on Wednesday against Dartmouth in the Bobcats 10-2 win over the Big Green. He also lined a two RBI double to left center in the contest.

Mainetti is tied for the team lead in homers with 7 on the season. He is batting .324 on the season, with 14 runs scored, and 21 runs batted in. Mainetti has also been a rock at the first base bag this season, sporting a fielding percentage of .993. He has made one error all season.

The Quinnipiac baseball team is back in action on Friday to start a four game home series against Central Connecticut State University. Game time is scheduled for 3 pm.

Saturday and Sunday’s games will both be broadcasted by the Bobcats Sports Network on WQAQ. Game time both weekend afternoons is 12 noon. The WQAQ Sports pre-game show begins at 11:45 am. 

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Mayer propels Bobcats to victory

Mayer propels Bobcats to victory
by Mike Radomski
April 3, 2007

HAMDEN - The Quinnipiac University Bobcats defeated the Hartford Hawks on Sunday afternoon 11-1.

Bobcat starter Andy Mayer pitched six scoreless innings to lead the Bobcats to victory. The QU sophomore only surrendered four hits and one walk in the Bobcats 6^th victory of the season.

“He’s done the same thing he’s done all year long,” said Quinnipiac manager Dan Gooley, “He gets ahead of a lot of hitters with first pitch strikes and keeps a low pitch count.”

Mayer threw 78 pitches and lowered his earned run average to a team low 0.35. The opposing hitters are hitting only .196 against the Quinnipiac ace.

“I was focusing on my changeup,” said Mayer, “and it was keeping hitters off balance. I was jamming kids, they were popping up, and we were playing great defense.”

Quinnipiac was also on at the plate. The Hartford Hawks struggled mightily on the mound walking thirteen Bobcats, and plunking three, giving the Bobcats ample opportunities to score.

Quinnipiac clawed to an early lead in the 2^nd inning, as Hartford starter Chris Greiner walked home a run.

The phenomenal pitching of Mayer and a seven-run seventh inning contributed to the Bobcats 11-1 victory. Wilson Matos went 2 for 3 with a home run, two RBIs, and three runs scored as the Bobcats improve to 6-6-1 on the season as theUniversity of Hartford Hawks drop to 3-15.

The Bobcats are back in action on Wednesday when they play at Yale. Then, Quinnipiac starts their NEC play with four games in three days at FDU beginning on Thursday at 3 PM.

Quinnipiac losing streak reaches 3 with 4-2 loss

By: Michael Radomski
WQAQ Quinnipiac Baseball Beat Writer 
March 15, 2007 

Ormond Beach (Fla.)- Quinnipiac’s losing streak continued yesterday with a 4-2 loss at the hands of Bethune Cookman.

 

Pat Egan started for QU and was rocked early in his first start since 2005. The senior, coming off of Tommy John surgery, was tacked for four runs in the first inning. The first six Wildcat hitters reached base safely and BCC cleanup hitter Angel Negron ripped a two run single to push the Wildcat lead to 4 runs.

 

The Bobcats went scoreless in the first two innings and in the bottom of the second, Coach Gooley made the move to pull Pat Egan. Andy Mayer entered the game for the Bobcats and pitched the rest of the way.

 

Mayer pitched a splendid seven shutout innings allowing four hits and two walks. Mayer kept QU in the game, and all the Bobcats needed were some runs.  

 

Down 4-0, the Bobcats did not score until the third inning when Randy Gress hit an RBI single. The Bobcats continued to struggle against Wildcat starter Hiram Burgos as the game progressed, and couldn’t score again until the 8^th.

 

In the top half of that inning, the Bobcats would add one more run off Burgos on a Randy Gress home run, but it proved to be the last Bobcat run of the day.  

 

Bethune-Cookman won 4-2 with solid pitching and an early 4-run first inning that set the tone for the rest of the game. With the win, the Wildcats improve to 7-15, while the Bobcats’ record drops to 2-5.

 

The Bobcats will play this afternoon against the Los Angeles Dodgers A club at Vero Beach beginning at 1 PM. This exhibition game will end the Bobcats’ stay in the Sunshine State.

Six run 7th sends Stetson to victory over QU

By: Michael Radomski
Quinnipiac Baseball Beat Writer
March 14, 2007 

DeLand (Fla.) -Stetson University defeated Quinnipiac for the second time in as many days yesterday 13-6. This time the Hatters needed a six run 7^th inning to come out victorious.

For the first time all year, Quinnipiac jumped out to the early lead and scored first. Starter Andy Mauldin allowed a leadoff single to Wilson Matos setting up Pete Kummerfeldt. The NEC Player of the Week relinquished the opportunity and crushed a two run home run to right field. The first pitch home run was Kummerfeldt’s second home run of the season, giving Quinnipiac a 2-0 lead.

 

Joe Cesarini started, after pitching in relief two days earlier. Cesarini pitched a perfect 1-2-3 first inning, but fell into trouble in the second.

 

Following two leadoff singles, Cesarini answered with two fly ball outs, but Josh Clendenin’s RBI single bridged the gap to just one run.

 

Quinnipiac would go scoreless in the top half of the 3^rd, but Stetson would not. The Hatters rallied for two more runs off of Cesarini to take a 3-2 lead.

 

Coach Gooley pulled Cesarini to start the bottom of the 4^th inning and replaced him with Joe Duffy. A sacrifice fly from shortstop Kevin Johnson increased the lead to two for Stetson.

 

In the top of the fifth, the Bobcats would take the run back with a Tim Binkoski RBI single. However, the Hatters added a run in the bottom of the sixth to push the lead back to two.

 

With the score 5-3 in the 7th, Quinnipiac clawed for one more run to close the gap to one. Brian Monack scored as Ryan Rizzo hit the ball to shortstop Kevin Johnson, who committed the error that plated Monack.

However, in the bottom of the seventh, the Hatters took firm control of the game. Stetson University rocked Joe Duffy and Tyler Brett for six runs on eight hits. The Hatter simply would not be denied rallying for the 11-4 lead.

The Bobcats would go scoreless in their half of the eighth, but the Hatters would add two more runs advancing the lead.

Quinnipiac would add two more runs in the ninth, but the Hatters still prevailed 13-6. The Bobcats’ record dropped to 2-4 with the loss as Stetson University improved to 14-6 with the 13-6 victory. The Bobcats will now face Bethune-Cookman tonight at 6:45.

QU’s shaky start, late errors costly in Stetson victory

By: Michael Radomski
WQAQ Quinnipiac Baseball Beat Writer 
March 13, 2007 

DeLand (Fla.) - The Hatters of Stetson University defeated the Quinnipiac Bobcats 9-7 last night.

Quinnipiac again trailed early, a trend that has haunted the Bobcats too often this season. Yesterday, Stetson University led 5-0 after the first three innings and appeared to be on their way to victory.

The Hatters rallied verse Bobcat starter Paul Gibson for two early runs in the bottom of the 1st. Cleanup hitter Justin Bass ripped a double down the left field line, scoring both Shane Jordan and Braedyn Pruitt.

Up 2-0 in the 2^nd, the Hatters added two more runs with a Josh Clendenin RBI double and an RBI groundout to 2^nd from Shane Jordan.

In the bottom of the 3^rd inning, Justin Bass continued his bashing of the Bobcats with a solo home run to lead off the inning. Bass’ bash, his 1st of the season, propelled the Hatters an early 5-0 lead, but once again Quinnipiac started the comeback.  

In the top of the 4^th inning, Quinnipiac finally put a run on the board courtesy NEC Player of the Week Pete Kummerfeldt. The New Jersey native singled home Randy Gress to cut the lead to four.

Stetson stormed back with another run in the bottom half from their cleanup hitter Justin Bass. The DeLand native continued to wreak havoc on Gibson, with a sacrifice fly to center field, his third RBI of the game.

In the 5^th, Stetson starter, Jake Hitchcock, was rocked for the 3^rd straight inning. Quinnipiac tacked on two more runs in the frame due to John Delaney’s RBI double and an RBI groundout from Ryan Rizzo. The Bobcats however still trailed 6-3.

Phenomenal pitching from both Paul Gibson and Jake Hitchcock kept the score 6-3 until the top of the 8^th inning when the Bobcats were on the prowl for more.

The comeback kids from Quinnipiac battled back and tied the game against a barrage of Stetson relievers.

Jake Hitchcock started the 8^th and pitched to two batters. Relievers David Burns, Nick Pugliese, and Ian Thompson followed as the Hatters tried to stop the bleeding.

Quinnipiac sent eight batters to the plate in the 8^th inning and it all started with three consecutive hits.  

John Delaney lead off the rally with a double down the left field line. Ryan Rizzo followed that with an RBI single scoring John Delaney and chasing Jake Hitchcock from the game.

Reliever David Burns entered and allowed a Tim Binkoski single to right field. That was it for Burns as he was pulled for the 3^rd pitcher of the inning, Nick Pugliese.

Pugliese then retired both Ryan Gress and Wilson Matos for the first two outs of the inning. With runners on first and third, Pete Kummerfeldt reached on Josh Clendenin’s catcher interference to load up the bases.

Jeff Mainetti ripped the game-tying single through the left side driving the Bobcats dugout crazy. The Bobcats tied the game as Tim Binkoski and Ryan Rizzo came around to score.

Ian Thompson then entered the game as the 4^th reliever of the inning for Stetson. Jeff Carino then pinch-hit for Quinnipiac and grounded out to 1^st unassisted to end the inning.

With the score tied at six, Coach Gooley stuck with Paul Gibson on the mound to enter the eighth inning. Between the 4^th and the 7^th innings, Gibson retired twelve of fourteen batters. He struggled before that allowing six runs on eleven hits and two walks.

Gibson started the eighth inning allowing two hits. Josh Clendenin hit a single, and then Kevin Johnson dropped down a bunt to 3^rd base. John Delaney fielded the ball but threw it into right field. Ryan Rizzo’s relay home beat Clendenin and  put him in a pickle.

However, Clendenin was awarded home as catcher Jeff Carino was cited for obstruction. Stetson took the 7-6 lead as Clendenin scored and Johnson moved over to 3^rd, on the bunt, and two errors.

Chris Gloor then entered the game and surrendered an RBI double to Shane Jordan, putting the Hatters up 8-6. Stetson University would add one more run in the frame with Justin Bass’ third hit and fifth RBI of the game.

Heading into the 9^th inning, the Bobcats trailed 9-6, and needed one more comeback. Quinnipiac could only tally one run and lost to Stetson 9-7.

The Bobcats committed four errors in the game, two in the bottom of the eighth, that proved costly. Quinnipiac has now allowed eleven runs in five games as the Bobcats drop to 2-3 on the season.

Stetson University improves to 14-6 on the season with the win, and the two teams will play tonight in the 2^nd game of this 2-game series. The contest will began at 7 PM once again at Melching Field in DeLand, Florida.

Eight run 8th propels Quinnipiac to victory

By: Michael Radomski
WQAQ Quinnipiac Baseball Beat Writer 

TAMPA (Fla.)- The Bobcats needed an eight run eighth inning to come back and defeat Michigan State 12-9.Quinnipiac lost to Michigan State in the season opener 8-5, but rallied from a 7-0 deficit to win this matchup yesterday afternoon.

Eric Weber started for Quinnipiac and struggled through a shaky first inning. Michigan State’s leadoff hitter Dennis Jones was hit by the 1^st pitch of the game, a sign of wild things to come. Jones then stole second base and advanced to third as the throw got away from Wilson Matos. MSU rallied for the early 2-0 lead with RBI singles from Steve Gerstenberger and Evan Friedland.

Quinnipiac failed to score in their first two innings, while Michigan State seized the opportunity and added another run to the lead.  

Up 3-0, entering the fourth, the Spartans added another three runs. In an inning that saw two wild pitches, two walks, and one hit by pitch, Michigan chased Eric Weber from the mound.

Weber pitched four innings allowing six runs, on seven hits, and three walks. Freshman Todd DeFrancesco entered in the 5^th inning, trailing 6-0.

 

DeFrancesco retired the first two hitters, and then allowed a walk and a single. With runners on first and second with two outs, Brandon Doherty’s RBI single increased the lead the Spartan lead to 7-0.

 

The Bobcats however would not go quietly. The team rallied from a 3-0 deficit the day earlier verse Harvard, only to lose 4-3 in extra innings.

 

Quinnipiac would start the comeback in the bottom of the fifth inning. With two outs, Tim Binkoski singled home Brian Monack and Ryan Gress followed with a two-run double of his very own. Quinnipiac cut the lead to 4, hoping DeFrancesco could hold it.

The Connecticut native did just that, holding the Spartans scoreless in the top of the sixth. The Bobcats took advantage of this, adding another run in the bottom half.

Both teams went scoreless in the 7^th, as Michigan State took a 7-4 lead into the eighth.Michigan State would add another run on a Steve Gerstenberger RBI double.In the bottom half of the eight, the Bobcats leapt on the scene, devouring the Spartans pitching. The eight run eighth inning started with an error, and a hit by pitch. Michigan State then pulled Adam Slusher in favor of Chris Cullen.

Cullen then walked Jeff Mainetti to load the bases with no body out. Coach Gooley then decided to use pinch hitter Jeff Carino for Michael Marmo.

 

Carino proved Coach Gooley right with a two run double bringing the Bobcats within two. Brian Monack then struck out, and Jeff Delaney followed with an RBI double shrinking the lead to one.  

The Bobcats now trailed 8-7 with the tying run 90 feet away. Trying to keep the lead, Michigan State made a pitching change. The Spartans brought in reliever Nolan Moody for Chris Cullen.

Ryan Rizzo greeted Moody with a two run double to give Quinnipiac the unbelievable comeback and the lead, but the Bobcats weren’t done yet. Nolan Moody loaded up the bases once again with two walks, one intentional, for Pete Kummerfeldt.

 

Earlier in the game, Pete hit his first home run of the season driving the Bobcats within three runs, 7-4. This time around, the sophomore from New Jersey laced a bases clearing double to right center field giving the Bobcats a 12-8 lead.

 

Quinnipiac then handed the ball over to Joe Cesarini to shut the door closed in the ninth. Cesarini walked the first hitter, and Tony Clausen followed it up with an RBI double.

 

With the score 12-9, the freshman stepped up to finish this one. Cesarini then retired the Spartans 1-2-3 to wrap up the Bobcats second win of the season.

With the 12-9 win, the Bobcats improve to 2-2 on the season, and will start a 2-game series with Stetson tonight at 7. Michigan State drops to 5-6 with the loss.

GAME NOTE: Following the phenomenal week from 1B/DH Pete Kummerfeldt, the sophomore from New Jersey was named the NEC Player of the Week. Kummerfeldt hit .438 with 1 HR and 6 RBIs in the first four games for Quinnipiac. He played a pivotal role throughout the week including a game-tying RBI against Harvard in the 9^th, sending the game to extra innings. Kummerfeldt’s 2-for-3, home run, 4 RBI performance aided QU’s win vs Michigan State. The home run kept the comeback moving, and the bases clearing double in the 8^th gave Quinnipiac enough insurance runs for the victory.

Missed opportunities, costly error doom Bobcats

By: Michael Radomski
WQAQ Quinnipiac Baseball Beat Writer 

CLEARWATER Fla. - The Quinnipiac baseball team lost to the Harvard Crimson 4-3 in extra innings yesterday afternoon.

 

Harvard starting pitcher, Shawn Haviland, struggled early on giving Quinnipiac ample opportunities to score.

 

In the top of the first, Haviland walked the bases loaded. Unfortunately for the Bobcats, Haviland then retired Randy Gress and Wilson Matos on strikes and popped up Peter Kummerfeldt to end the inning.

 

Joe Duffy started for the Bobcats and pitched a scoreless first. However, the New York native struggled in the 2^nd allowing 3 runs on 4 hits as Harvard took the lead.

 

Once again, the Bobcats trailed but fought their way back into the contest. Quinnipiac and Ryan Rizzo took advantage of Shawn Haviland’s wild pitching of six walks and two hits over 3 2/3. Rizzo drove home freshman Brian Monack on a two out single to close the gap to two.

 

Then, the Bobcats pitching kept Quinnipiac in the game. Tyler Brett took over for Duffy in the sixth inning and shut down the Crimson. The CT native kept Harvard off the board as long as he could pitching 4 1/3 innings only allowing one run.

 

Quinnipiac would catch up with a Wilson Matos sac fly in the 7^th to pull the Bobcats within one. In the 9^th, the Bobcats rallied against Crimson closer Dan Zailskas. Matos led off with a single, followed by an RBI double from Pete Kummerfeldt, who advanced to 3^rd on a throwing error.

 

QU tied the game on that double, and were in position to take the lead, but once again, the Crimson pitching staff came up clutch. With the potential game winning run on 3^rd, the Bobcats went down 1-2-3, ending the inning, and missing an opportunity to take the lead.

 

In the bottom half of the 9^th, Harvard went scoreless and the two teams were off to extra innings. In the top half of the tenth, John Delaney lead off with a single. Quinnipiac once again had the potential game winning run on base, but Ryan Rizzo grounded into a double play. The Bobcats would go down without scoring.

 

In the Harvard half of the 10^th, Matt Rogers reached first on an error by catcher Michael Marmo. Rogers then stole second and following a walk, came home on Tom Stack-Babich’s game-winning single. Harvard wins 4-3 in 10 innings.

The win marks Harvard’s first win in their first game of the season as Quinnipiac now falls to 1-2. The Bobcats will play Michigan State for the second time of the season, this afternoon.  

Bocats Open Season With Split

BOBCATS OPEN SEASON WITH SPLIT
By: Michael Radomski
WQAQ Quinnipiac Baseball Beat Writer
March 10, 2007

TAMPA- The Quinnipiac Bobcats split the season opening doubleheader yesterday with South Florida and Michigan State

Quinnipiac lost to Michigan State in the first game 8-5. Then, the Bobcats narrowly defeated South Florida 5-4 in the nightcap.

In Game 1, Craig Brookes led the Spartans with his pitching. Brookes pitched 6 2/3 allowing two runs in the quality start. RF Eli Boike led Michigan State in the leadoff spot hitting 3 for 5 with 2 RBIs.

The Bobcats starter Andy Mayer had a shaky start allowed five runs, all unearned, over the course of four innings. Mayer hit three batters, allowed six hits, and walked two. The sophomore starter also committed a throwing error in the 3^rd that sparked a three run Spartan rally.

Senior Tim Binkoski led Quinnipiac with a 4-for-5 performance with a triple, 2 RBIs, and a stolen base. 2B Randy Gress backed up Rizzo’s performance with a 3 for 5 RBI performance in the cleanup spot.

More good news for the Bobcats was the return Pat Egan. The senior was drafted in the 36^th round of the MLB Draft, but had season ending Tommy John surgery last year. Egan’s return was a successfully strong inning pitched in relief.

With the victory, the Spartans improved to 4-5 on the season, while the Bobcats fell to 0-1. But the team didn’t have time to sulk. Soon there after, the Bobcats were back in action playing South Florida.

The Bulls from South Florida jumped out to the early 3-0 lead after two innings. However, the Bobcats wouldn’t let the Bulls run away with this victory.

Randy Gress went 2-for-5 and hit a solo home run in the third to put the Bobcats on the board. Later on in the inning, the Bobcats closed the gap to 1 with a Pete Kummerfeldt single, bringing home Wilson Matos.

On the mound, Quinnipiac starter Chris Gloor allowed three runs over four innings before being lifted for reliever Eric Bretscher. The junior righthander masterfully pitched five innings, allowing just one run.

The Bobcats clawed back to take the lead in the fourth, and behind Bretscher’s pitching, took a 4-3 lead into the 9^th.

In the top half, Quinnipiac received a much-needed insurance run from pinch hitter Michael Marmo. In the bottom half, the Bobcats barely held on for the victory. Ty Taborelli slammed a pinch hit home run for the Bulls. Then, with runners on 1^st and 2^nd and two outs, Eric Bretscher came up clutch striking out cleanup hitter Brandin Daniel to end the game.

Despite three more errors, the Bobcats held on to the 5-4 victory to split the two team doubleheader. South Florida’s record drops to 10-5 as the Bobcats improve to 1-1.

The Bobcats will play Harvard later today at 4 PM in their 3^rd game of the season. This game will be played in Clearwater, Florida at the Jack Russell Stadium beginning at 2:45 PM.

Bobcat Baseball Invades Florida

BOBCAT BASEBALL INVADES FLORIDA

By: Michael Radomski

Baseball Beat

Friday, March 9, 2007

HAMDEN- Baseball is back in season for Quinnipiac University.The team bus left the cold confines of Connecticut at 11:30 AM on Thursday for the Sunshine State of Florida.

The Bobcats will play Michigan State (3-2) in the season opener today at noon. Then, as part of a doubleheader, the Bobcats will play South Florida (10-4) in the 6 pm nightcap. Both games will be played at South Florida’s Red McEwen Field.

Quinnipiac is ranked 2^nd in the Northeast Conference Preseason Poll behind CCSU. This is the third straight season where the Bobcats have been ranked 2^nd in the preseason coaches’ poll.

The Bobcats only lost one starter from last year’s team. The team brings back eight starters and Pat Egan. The 6’8’’ senior from Rocky Hill, CT is returning from season ending Tommy John surgery last year. He ranks 9^th place all time on the QU wins list with 16, and was drafted in the 36^th round of the MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles.

Andy Mayer is another big QU pitcher. He led the team in wins (6) and games started (12).  The Trumbull, CT native also led the team in innings pitched (72.1).

At the plate, QU is sporting some tough hitters. Ryan Rizzo led QU in batting average, on base percentage, runs, and hits last season.  His 74 hits in ’06 fell four shy of setting the QU single season record. The senior outfielder is 32 hits shy of setting the all time QU hits record, set by Steve Kulpa in 1993 with 201. With 170 hits thus far, Rizzo will have to compete with fellow teammates Tim Binkoski (164) and Wilson Matos (159) for the shot at the record.

The Bobcats had five teammates named to NEC honors last season. Seniors Ryan Rizzo, Tim Binkoski, and junior John Delaney all made 1^st team while Senior Randy Gress and Ricky Coppola made NEC 2^nd team.

Quinnipiac is coached by Dan Gooley. The ’69 graduate of QU coached the Bobcats baseball team from 1977-1987. Gooley has been coaching the Bobcats since 2001 as well.  

The team’s last game is Florida is on March 15^th verse the Dodger’s Class A team in Dodgertown at Vero Beach. The team returns to the Northeast for a Saint Patrick’s Day matchup verse St. John’s.