4/28/23
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – Lackawanna College baseball is set to start its final Region XIX series this upcoming weekend, as the Falcons battle with the defending Region XIX champions from Mercer County CC on Friday, April 28^th and Saturday, April 29^th to close out the region regular season.
 
Game one will be a single, nine-inning affair on Friday afternoon, emanating from Scranton HS in Scranton, PA. First pitch is at 2:15pm ET, and there will be a video livestream available via the Lackawanna College Athletics Network at lackawannafalcons.com/LIVE and the Region XIX Sports Network.
 
The other two games will be in the form of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon in West Windsor Twp., NJ. The first game is scheduled for a 12:00pm ET first pitch, and there will be a video livestream available via the Mercer County CC athletics department HERE.
 
About The Falcons
Lackawanna College (29-13, 14-1) has gone 22-4 in its last 26 games, and has won eleven straight games, with its last loss coming two weeks ago to Monroe College, 15-13. The Falcons were last in action this past Tuesday, when they escaped with a 13-9 win over SUNY Dutchess CC on the road in Wappingers Falls, NY. The Falcons trailed 6-5 heading into the sixth, but scored eight straight runs to build a seven-run lead, then held on through a nervous ninth inning to preserve the victory. You can read the recap HERE.
 
The Falcons are hitting .344 on the year so far, posting a combined 1.017 OPS, with a .465 on-base percentage. The Falcons have scored 424 runs, while giving up 269, and have scored ten or more runs in 22 games this season, 20 of which have been wins. Lackawanna College has 160 extra-base hits, including 91 doubles (1^st in Region XIX) and 41 homeruns (2^nd in Region XIX), and the Falcons have been deadly on the base paths, going 147-for-157 on steals this year. Lackawanna leads Region XIX in triples (25) and is first in stolen bases. Lackawanna has drawn 252 walks this season, but has struck out 258 times. The Falcons pitching staff holds a 7.11 ERA so far this season, giving up 269 runs, 233 earned, on 306 hits in 295 innings. The Falcons have struck out 298 batters and are holding their opponents to a .260 batting average this season.
 
Corner infielder Ian Murphy (West Deptford, NJ) is a .388 hitter this year, and leads the Falcons with 54 total hits on the year. Murphy has a 1.100 OPS on the season in 40 games, and is slugging at .626 for the Falcons this season. Murphy is fourth on the team with six homeruns this season, and he has a team-best 52 RBI on the year, collecting 21 extra base hits and scoring 48 runs, second on the team this year. Murphy's 15 doubles lead all of Region XIX. Murphy has also drawn 20 walks this season, sixth on the squad, and is one of eleven Falcons with ten or more walks. Murphy has 17 multi-hit games this season, and was 1-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI against Dutchess on Tuesday. Murphy has recorded a hit in his last eight games.    
 
Outfielder Zachary Walsh (Spring Brook Twp., PA) holds a .400 batting average so far this season, and is second on the team with 50 hits. Walsh has a 1.249 OPS, and has scored a team-high 58 runs. Walsh has 36 RBI, and 19 extra base hits this season, including seven homers, tied for second on the team. He has drawn a team-best 39 walks, and has stolen 48 total bases this year, first on the team and first in NJCAA DII. Walsh has a .553 on-base percentage, but has struck out 30 times, tied for most on the team this year. Walsh has 14 multi-hit games this year, and was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBI, thanks to a double and a triple against the Dutchess Falcons on Tuesday.
 
Outfielder Christian Rush (Perkasie, PA) has the most at-bats (140) and holds a .350 batting average through 41 games on the year, compiling 49 hits, third on the team. Rush has a 1.094 OPS, with a team-high five triples and seven homeruns, tied for second on the squad, with 45 RBI on the year. Rush is second in RBI behind Murphy this year. His 47 runs scored are third on the team this year. Rush has 21 stolen bases this season, second on the team. He has 14 multi-hit games this year, and was a combined 4-for-6 with two runs scored, a double, and three RBI in two games against Sussex on Sunday. Rush did not play against Dutchess on Tuesday.  
 
Catcher and DH Michael Miller (Lafayette Hill, PA) is hitting .484 in his 32 games this year, and has an OPS of 1.384. Miller's 46 hits are fourth on the team, and he's scored 31 runs on the year. Miller has 17 extra base hits this season, with a team-best eight homeruns and nine doubles on the year. He's driven in 38 RBI this year, and has a slugging percentage at .832, with a .552 on-base percentage. He's drawn 14 walks and has been hit by four pitches so far this season. Miller has 15 multi-hit games, nine in his last 12 games, and was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a double in the win over Dutchess. Miller has a 15-game hitting streak, currently.  
 
Shortstop Brayden D'Amico (Bethlehem, PA) has a .349 batting average in his 39 games this year. D'Amico has a .968 OPS, and has 44 hits, fifth on the team this year. D'Amico has scored 36 runs, fifth on the squad, and has ten doubles this season, driving in 38 runs this year, tied with Miller for fourth on the Falcons. D'Amico has a .476 on-base percentage, getting hit by a team-high 13 pitches and drawing 22 walks, tied for second on the team. D'Amico has 12 multi-hit games this season. He was 0-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI in the win over Dutchess on Tuesday.   
 
Utility player Eric Ludwick (Bethlehem, PA) is averaging .295 on the year, with an OPS at .899 this season. Ludwick has 36 hits on the season, scoring 40 runs, and he has driven in 40 RBI, third on the team this season. Ludwick has 22 walks this season, tied with D'Amico for second on the team this year, and has 13 extra base hits, with four homeruns, six doubles, and three triples this year. Ludwick has eight multi-hit games on the year, and was 1-for-2 with a run scored, a triple, and two RBI in the win over Dutchess. Ludwick has an eight-game hitting streak coming into the weekend.
 
Utility player Spencer Butz (York, PA) is hitting .325 on the year in his 30 games, with 22 starts this season. Butz has a 1.100 OPS, and has a .486 on-base percentage this season. Butz has 27 total hits, and has 26 RBI this season. He's also scored 31 runs for the Falcons this year. Butz has eleven extra base hits, including three triples and five homeruns, and has drawn 17 walks, while getting hit by nine pitches this season. Butz has also stolen 17 bases, third on the squad. Butz has seven multi-hit games this season, but has missed the last three games for the Falcons.
 
Catcher Cole Casamento (Limerick, PA) has 23 total hits and is hitting .338 in 31 games this season. Casamento has 16 runs scored on the year, and holds a .901 OPS. Casamento has seven doubles this year, along with a triple, and has 16 RBI, while drawing nine walks and compiling a .430 on-base percentage. Casamento also has six stolen bases this season. Cole has four multi-hit games this season, and was 1-for-1 in a pinch-hit role on Tuesday, delivering with an RBI triple against Duchess.      
 
Second baseman Michael Rickert (Moosic, PA) is hitting .407 in his 26 games this season, posting a 1.197 OPS. Rickert has 22 total hits, and has scored 18 runs. He has five doubles and four triples on the season, and has driven in 16 RBI. Rickert has drawn 17 walks, and has a .549 OBP, while stealing seven bags on the year. Rickert has six multi-hit games on the year, and was a combined 3-for-5 with two runs scored, a double, and two RBI in two games against Sussex on Sunday.  He did not play against Duchess on Tuesday.
 
On the mound, the Falcons are led by Kyle Scott (Westminster, MD), who is 6-2 on the year in ten starts. He went five innings against SWVCC in the season opener, striking out ten batters and allowing just two hits in what became a shutout 12-0 win for the Falcons. Scott was the Region XIX Pitcher of the Year in 2021, and battled through injuries last season to still be named to the Region XIX second-team. Scott has a 3.86 ERA in 46.2 innings pitched, giving up 26 runs, 20 earned, on 34 hits, while striking out a team-best 75 batters and walking 23. Scott has held his opponents to .194 on the season. Scott has four games where he has struck out ten or more batters this season. Scott had won his last four starts entering Sunday against Sussex, and tossed a season-high 14 strikeouts in a 12-0 win over Monroe CC back on April 7^th. His last start, against Sussex, ended with a thud, after Scott had to leave the game in the fifth inning after Sussex had plated a few runs. Scott went 4.2 innings, giving up six runs, five earned, on three hits, while striking out eight.       
 
Aiden Starn (Pennsville, NJ) has pitched 38.2 innings so far this season, and has a 3-2 record with a 5.59 ERA this year. He's allowed 29 runs, 24 earned, on 45 hits, with 41 strikeouts and 18 walks this year. Batters are hitting .287 against Starn in his nine appearances. Starn had maybe his best start of the year this past Sunday against Sussex, giving up seven hits and two runs, just one earned, in seven innings of work, striking out a season-high eight batters in what was a 9-2 win for Lackawanna College.   
 
Matthew McElligott (Columbus, OH) has thrown 26.1 innings of work this year in a team-high 15 appearances, with two starts this season. He's got a 5.47 ERA, giving up 17 runs, 16 earned, on 20 hits, while striking out 27 batters and walking 21. McElligott is holding his opponents to a .202 batting average on the year. McElligott made a pair of appearances over the weekend, pitching three scoreless innings of relief against Raritan Valley on Friday, then coming in to relieve Scott two days later against Sussex, giving up a run on two hits in 1.1 innings of relief, but securing the win. McElligott got the win in his last appearance, going 2.2 innings in relief and giving up just one hit and striking out a pair of batters in the win at Duchess on Tuesday.   
 
Reliever Ty Morris (Manchester Valley, MD) has thrown 24.2 innings so far this season, posting a 4.74 ERA and a 5-0 record in his eleven appearances. Morris has given up 16 runs, 13 earned, on 30 hits, striking out 17 and walking eight on the year. Teams are hitting .297 against Morris this season. Morris started in his last appearance, pitching six scoreless innings, allowing just three hits, in a 13-0 win over Raritan Valley CC on Saturday. 
 
Nathan Russell (Drexel Hill, PA) has thrown 22 innings of work so far this season, making 13 appearances, all in relief, posting a 7.77 ERA and going 3-0 this season, with a save. Russell has given up 19 runs on 24 hits, while striking out 16 and walking 15 this year. Russell's opponents are averaging .279 at the dish against him this year. Russell gave up three runs on four hits in 1.1 innings of relief against Duchess on Tuesday in his last appearance.  
 
Reliever Jace Cunnane (Clarkstown, NY) has thrown 20 innings this season, posting a 3.60 ERA in eleven appearances, going 2-0 and posting a pair of saves. He's given up ten runs on 18 hits, while striking out 15 and walking just five batters this year. Cunnane is holding opponents to a .225 batting average this season. Cunnane pitched an inning of scoreless relief on Tuesday against Duchess in the win for the Falcons.  
 
Reliever Ty Federici (Lehman, PA) has made ten appearances and is 3-2 with an 8.10 ERA so far this season. In his 20 innings pitched, Federici has allowed 24 runs, 18 earned, on 31 hits, while striking out 18 and walking eight. Batters have hit him hard this season, with a .326 batting average against him. Federici started on Tuesday, giving up three runs on four hits and striking out three through three innings of work against Duchess.
 
Lackawanna College is coached by Mike McCarry, now in his fifth season at the helm for the Falcons. McCarry has taken the Falcons to the NJCAA DII World Series twice in the last four years, taking the Falcons to Region 19 crowns in 2019 and 2021, on their way to the World Series tournament in Enid, OK. McCarry, who played under Jamie Shevchik at nearby Keystone College in the early 2000's, has been coaching baseball since 2006, having spent time at Central Bucks West HS, then moved onto the collegiate ranks a few years later when he arrived at LaSalle University, where he was the Head Assistant – Pitching Coach and Recruiting Coordinator. While at LaSalle, McCarry helped the Explorers develop a relationship with NJCAA schools, bringing in four NJCAA All-Americans in his time. After LaSalle, McCarry moved on to be the pitching coach at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, TX. McCarry is 123-70 in his 4+ seasons with the Falcons, winning a pair of Region 19 championships and coaching three NJCAA All-Americans, as well as several All-Region selections in his time at Lackawanna.
 
About the Opponents
The Vikings (21-19, 10-5) are the defending Region XIX DII champions, and were last year's district representative in the NJCAA DII World Series. This year's iteration got off to a dreadful 2-7 start, but then rattled off eleven straight wins to get some momentum back. The Vikings were 17-10 as of sweeping past Raritan on April 5^th, but have gone 4-9 since then with some uneven results, including taking two-of-three from Morris, but dropping a game to Salem. In its last game, Mercer lost to nationally ranked DIII RCSJ Gloucester, 23-9, on Tuesday afternoon. The Roadrunners compiled 20 hits through seven innings, building a 14-2 lead after three innings, and answering Mercer when the Vikings began to score with more runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Gloucester had seven extra-base hits and drew nine walks on the day.
 
As a team, Mercer is hitting .297 on the year, with a combined OPS at .817 this season. The Vikings have scored 262 runs on the year, a 6.5 runs per game average, and have 105 extra base hits this year, including 76 doubles and 16 homeruns. The Vikings have 247 strikeouts and 148 walks, and have 51 stolen bases on the year. The pitching staff has a combined ERA of 6.94, giving up 270 runs in 288 innings pitched, 222 earned, on 333 hits. The Vikings have struck out 246 batters, and walked 201 this season.
 
Jalen Perez leads the Vikings with 43 total hits this season, posting a .291 batting average on the year. Perez has a .758 OPS so far this season, and has scored a team-high 36 runs this year. His 14 doubles are a team-high, and he has 16 extra base hits, also first on the Vikings, to drive in a team-high 26 RBI. He's drawn seven walks and struck out 26 times this season, with 14 stolen bases on the year, first on the team. Perez has 12 multi-hit games on the year, and was 1-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI in the loss to Gloucester on Tuesday.
 
Torin McKenzie has a .344 batting average and 42 total hits on the year in 37 games. McKenzie has scored 29 runs and has a .924 OPS this season. He's got ten doubles, second on the team, and has 14 extra base hits, including a pair of homers, driving in 23 runs, also second on the squad.  McKenzie has eight walks and 20 strikeouts, and has a pair of stolen bases this season. McKenzie has 13 multi-hit games on the year, and was 0-for-2 with a strikeout in the loss to Gloucester on Tuesday.
 
Hunter Rivera has a .287 batting average and 33 total hits in 36 games on the season for Mercer. Rivera has scored 27 runs, third on the team, and has 21 RBI, also third on the squad. He's got six extra base hits, including a pair of triples, and has 13 walks, fourth on the team. Rivera has struck out 30 times this year, worst on the team, and has five stolen bases. Rivera has five multi-hit games on the year, and was 1-for-2 with two runs scored and a double on Tuesday against Gloucester.
 
Joe Gmitter has 32 total hits and is hitting .317 on the season for the Vikings. Gmitter has scored 22 runs, fifth on the team, and has six doubles this season to drive in 12 runs. He's got a .824 OPS, and has a team-high 23 walks with a .448 OBP in his 31 games. Gmitter has three stolen bases this season. Gmitter has seven multi-hit games on the year, and was 1-for-2 with a run scored and two walks against Gloucester on Tuesday.
 
Jacob Ramirez has 30 total hits and is a .390 hitter this season in 28 games for Mercer. Ramirez has scored 19 runs this year, and has five doubles, a triple, and three homers, tied for the team-lead this season. Ramirez has driven in 22 runs this year, good for third on the team, and has ten walks this season. He's compiled a 1.112 OPS with a team-high .597 slugging percentage. Ramirez has eleven multi-hit games on the year, and was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a double in the loss to Gloucester on Tuesday.
 
Gavin Neal has 29 total hits and is .337 hitter this season. Neal has scored 27 runs, tied with Rivera for third on the team, and has six doubles, a triple, and three homers, tied with Ramirez for first on the team in longballs. Neal has 18 RBI and 22 walks this season, and has a .486 OBP, second on the team behind Ramirez. Neal has a 1.021 OPS on the year, and six stolen bases this season. Neal has seven multi-hit games on the year, but did not play in the Tuesday game against Gloucester. He was a combined 4-for-8 with three runs scored, two doubles, a homer, and four RBI in two games against Sussex last Saturday.
 
Brayden Meskill has 28 total hits and a .350 batting average through 27 games on the year. Meskill has 15 runs scored, and has five doubles and a homer for 22 RBI on the year. Meskill has 12 walks and three stolen bases this year, and has a .882 OPS on the season. Meskill has six multi-hit games on the year, and was 0-for-2 with a run scored and a walk against Gloucester on Tuesday.
 
Dan Errigo leads the Vikings with 52.2 innings pitched this year, going 4-1 in eight starts with a 3.76 ERA. Errigo has allowed 29 runs, 22 earned, on 51 hits, with a team-high 38 strikeouts and 16 walks this season. Errigo set his season-high with eight strikeouts back on March 17^th in a 9-5 win over Lehigh Carbon, giving up four runs on six hits over seven innings. He got the loss last Friday in his last start, pitching 3.2 innings and giving up ten runs on eleven hits in 3.2 innings, walking one and striking out another.
 
Brett Mutz has eight appearances, all starts, and is 5-2 with a 6.30 ERA this year. Mutz, 40 innings pitched this season, has given up 31 runs, 28 earned, on 46 hits, striking out 34 and walking 13. Mutz has twice gotten his season-high in strikeouts with seven this season, posting it against Rockland on March 4^th and Lehigh Carbon on March 18^th, both wins for the Vikings and for Mutz. He didn't come away with the decision in his last start, the second game of the doubleheader on Saturday against Sussex. Mutz pitched 4.1 innings, giving up two runs on seven hits and striking out five, but the Vikings ultimately lost, 4-3.
 
Colin Bernhard is 2-2 in 12 appearances, six starts, with an 8.76 ERA. Bernhard has pitched 38 innings on the year, giving up 50 runs, 37 earned, on 61 hits, while striking out 29 and walking 23 this season. Bernhard hasn't started a game since April 8^th against Monroe, pitching in relief in his last five appearances. Bernhard pitched 5.1 innings of relief back on April 21^st against Sussex, giving up four runs on four hits in 5.1 innings, striking out five. He was ineffective in his last start, surrendering six runs on six hits in just 2/3 of an inning against Gloucester on Tuesday.
 
Ryan Mignogna is 2-3 in seven appearances with a 6.44 ERA this season. Mignogna has given up 22 runs, 21 earned, on 33 hits in 29.1 innings pitched this season, striking out 18 and walking 19. Mignogna was the starter on Tuesday against Gloucester, getting the loss after giving up eight runs on nine hits in just 2.1 innings of work against the Roadrunners.
 
Justin McKnight is second on the team with 15 appearances this season, and is 3-1 with a 6.21 ERA on the campaign. McKnight, in 29 innings pitched, has given up 23 runs, 20 earned, on 28 hits, with 20 strikeouts and 26 walks. McKnight has not started a game since April 5^th against Raritan Valley, giving up a run on two hits in four innings of a 9-4 win where he got the positive result. He's made five relief appearances since then, including the last game for the Vikings against Gloucester, where he pitched one inning of relief, surrendering three runs on one hit and two walks against the Roadrunners.
 
Andrew Luczak leads the Vikings with 16 appearances this season, posting an 0-4 record with six saves and a 6.20 ERA on the year. Luczak, in 20.1 innings of work, has surrendered 19 runs, 14 earned, on 22 hits, while striking out 33 and walking 23 this season. Luczak pitched twice in the same day back on Saturday in a doubleheader against Sussex, getting a two-out save in game on against the Skylanders, but getting tagged with the loss after going three innings in game two, giving up two runs on three hits and striking out six, but walking five in a 4-3 loss to Sussex.
 
The head coach for Mercer is first year skipper Russ Stupienski. Stupienski has been with the Vikings program as an assistant coach since 2012, and was a part of the staff for last year's Region XIX championship and subsequent World Series appearance. Stupienski, a Columbus, NJ-native, had a stellar high school career that he translated into a two-year stint at Mercer in 2009 and 2010, where he served as the catcher and closer for the Vikings. Stupienski then moved on to St. Peter's College, where he also filled the roles as catcher and closer for the Peacocks in the MAAC. Stupienski was an assistant at Mercer for five years before moving to Gafney, SC for two years to be an assistant and JV coach at Limestone College, then returned to Mercer in 2019. Stupienski has been a part of three Mercer World Series seasons (2014, 2016, 2022).
 
Game Details
Game one between Lackawanna and Mercer will be a single, nine-inning affair on Friday afternoon, emanating from Scranton HS in Scranton, PA. First pitch is at 2:15pm ET, and there will be a video livestream available via the Lackawanna College Athletics Network at lackawannafalcons.com/LIVE and the Region XIX Sports Network.
 
The other two games will be in the form of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon in West Windsor Twp., NJ. The first game is scheduled for a 12:00pm ET first pitch, and there will be a video livestream available via the Mercer County CC athletics department HERE.
 
Lackawanna College has a few more non-Region XIX DII games left on the regular season schedule, starting with a doubleheader on the road at CCBC Essex on Tuesday, May 2^nd. The doubleheader starts at 12:00pm ET in Baltimore, MD.