NEC Baseball Weekly Release (4/30)

4/30/2019

NEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
PATRICK CAUSA, MOUNT ST. MARY’S
Sr., SS, R/R, 5-10, 185 lbs., Sinking Spring, PA/Berks Catholic
WEEK 11 STATS: .563 BA (9-for-16), 5 XBH, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 5 runs, 1.125 slugging pct.
Causa slugged 1.125 while continuing his climb up Mount St. Mary’s all-time hits list last week. The senior shortstop recorded nine hits over the four-game stretch, moving up to third place in Mount history with 199 career base knocks. Causa, who connected on five extra-base hits, batted .563 (9-for-16) with five RBI and five runs scored. The Keystone State product produced three multi-hit performances in four appearances, including a pair of three-hit efforts against NEC rival Central Connecticut. He logged extra-base hits in all four contests, highlighted by a two long balls in the middle game against CCSU. After being hit by a pitch in two earlier plate appearances, Causa doubled in the sixth inning of the series opener with the score tied 8-8. The 5-foot-10 shortstop opened the scoring in Game 2, blasting a solo shot over the left-centerfield fence with two out in the bottom of the first frame. Causa connected on a RBI single next time up, tying the game at 2-2 in the third. Stepping to the plate in the eighth inning of a 6-6 game, Causa unloaded a two-run bomb to right-centerfield. He accounted for three of the Mount’s seven hits in the series finale, including a two-bagger with Mount facing a 1-0 deficit in the sixth. In a 16-7 mid-week win over Patriot League member Bucknell, Causa reached safely three times and scored three runs.

NEC PITCHER OF THE WEEK
BAYLOR SUNDAHL, SACRED HEART
Sr., RHP, 6-2, 170 lbs., Maryville, TN/Canterbury School
WEEK 11 STATS: 2 app., 6.1 IP, 1 R, 0 H, 5 BB, 9 K, 0.79 WHIP
Sundahl held the opposition hitless over 6.1 innings of work. The senior right-hander, who logged a scoreless frame in a mid-week game against Fairfield, came on in relief and pitched the Pioneers to a win in the series finale against LIU Brooklyn. Winning the rubber game of the three-game NEC set, Sundahl fired 5.1 no-hit innings while striking out nine batters. He walked three batters during the appearance with all three bases on balls coming during the sixth frame when he surrendered one run. Sundahl worked out of his lone jam by inducing an inning-ending pop out and proceeded to retire the side in order in the seventh. He entered the game against LIU with two outs in the second inning and went on to strike out five of the first seven batters to face him.

NEC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
JUSTIN JORDAN, SACRED HEART
Fr., OF, L/L, 5-11, 165 lbs., Darien, CT/Darien
WEEK 11 STATS: 5 app., .571 BA (8-for-14), 2 2B, 4 BB, 5 RBI, 3-for-3 SB, .652 OBP
Jordan, who reached base at a .652 clip over a five-game span, batted .800 (8-for-10) during the Pioneers’ series victory over defending NEC champion LIU Brooklyn. The first-year outfielder reached safely in all three games in Brooklyn. After walking once in the series-opening setback, Jordan did not make an out in either of the next two games. Powering the Pioneers to back-to-back victories, the freshman went 8-for-8 with four RBI and three runs scored. Jordan logged three hits in Game 2, a 17-10 triumph for SHU. He singled in a pair of runs and came around to score twice during Sacred Heart’s 11-run fourth inning. The 5-foot-11 outfielder hit safely in all five plate appearances during the series finale. His third-inning two-bagger plated a pair of runs to give SHU a 3-2 lead. He doubled again leading off the seventh, setting the stage for a three-run frame. For the week, Jordan went 8-for-14 (.571) at the plate with two doubles, four walks, three stolen bases and five RBI.

PRIME PERFORMERS
Patrick Causa, SS (MSM) – 5 XBH in 4 games, 1.125 slugging pct.
Justin Jordan, OF (SHU) -- .652 OBP; .800 BA in three games at LIU
Jake Frasca, INF (SHU) -- .524 BA, 6 RBI in 5 games
Rob Griswold, INF (LIU) – 8 H, 5 R, 5 RBI in 4 games
Evan McDonald, C/1B (FDU) – 3 HR, 8 RBI in 6 games
Chris Wright, 1B/LHP (BRY) – .412 BA; 2 saves
Baylor Sundahl, RHP (SHU) – 6.1 hitless IP
Patrick Mitchell, RHP (CCSU) – 8.0 IP, 1.12 ERA
Tyler Mattison, RHP (BRY) – 6.0 IP, 0 R, 5 K
Aaron Cohn, RHP (FDU) – 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB

QUICK PITCHES
> Bryant swept a weekend series for the fourth consecutive week, marking the first time they’ve pieced four straight sweeps together since 2013. The Bulldogs have built a 5.0-game lead over the second-place occupant in the NEC standings.

> Only 2.0 games separate second place from sixth place in the league standings. The top-four regular season finishers will qualify for the postseason NEC Tournament.

> Bryant owns one of the most-potent offensive attacks in Division I. The Bulldogs fifth nationally in batting average (.316), second in home runs (70), second in hits (513), second in runs (388) and fourth in scoring (8.8).

> For the seventh time in nine seasons, Bryant has won 30 games under the direction of skipper Steve Owens.

> Central Connecticut (18-16) snapped a four-game slide by winning three in a row to move back over the .500 mark.

> In 12 games since returning from injury, CCSU’s TT Bowens, the 2017 NEC Tournament MVP, is slugging .511 with nine RBI.

TWEET SHEET
@_BryantBaseball
(Apr 29) We’ve been voted the top team in New England for the second-straight week!

@indiansPro
(Apr 29) #Indians RHP prospect James Karinchak rankings amongst all MiLB relief pitchers w/ at least 10+ IP
1) ERA 0.00
1) FIP -0.93
1) SO/9 21.60
1) SO% 66.7%
1) SO/BB% 61.1%
2) SV 6
5) SwStr% 24.1%
6) AVG .059
6) WHIP 0.40

@BristolBluesCT
(Apr 29) @ccsubaseball & future Bristol Blue @SamLoda13 was probably one of the hottest hitters during the weekend.

@FDUKnights
(Apr 27) ? @FDUBaseball receives a gem from Aaron Cohn and two home runs from Evan McDonald in DH sweep of Saint Peter's

@Mount_BSB
(Apr 27) Mr. Clutch, Patrick Causa hit a two run bomb over the right center field wall to give us a two-run lead, 8-6 in the bottom of the eighth. #GoMount

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NEC Baseball Weekly Release (4/30)