The Quinnipiac University baseball team improved to 10-5 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play on Sunday afternoon, defeating the last place Fairfield Stags 2-1 in a series-clinching win. The Bobcats split Saturday’s doubleheader as they took Game 1 4-3 in 10 innings over the Stags, before dropping Game 2, 8-4. Despite trailing 1-0 early in Sunday’s game the Bobcats came back to take the win 2-1. Who would have thought that Quinnipiac would be in first place in the MAAC? There are a few key elements to this team that have provided some success in John Delaney’s first year as head coach.
1. Pitching and defense continues to lead the way.
The first is the leading role pitching and defense has had for this team. The Bobcats pulled out two one-run wins this weekend in games where pitching and some great defensive plays lead the way.The starting pitchers for both those games— Thomas Jankins and Justin Thomas— combined to pitch 12 innings and allow a combined 15 hits, four runs, eight strikeouts, and three walks. Although Jankins earned a no decision, he got the Bobcats out of some big jams, including a two-out rally by the Stags in the top of the fourth inning. After getting the first two batters to fly out, Jankins then gave up hits to Fairfield’s Dan Hopkins and Sal Ciccone. The next at-bat he walked Michael Conti to load the bases. Although Fairfield was threatening to score Jankins stayed focused and struck out Fairfield’s Dean Sadik to end the inning. Justin Thomas also earned a no decision, but got off to a rough start when he allowed three hits and a run in the first inning. Although the run was unearned Thomas still had to keep his composure and he did that by allowing only three hits over the next 4.2 innings. Relief pitching was very strong in both wins for the Bobcats.
In Game 1 Gary Binkiewicz and Matthew Lorenzetti would combine for 3.2 innings allowing two hits, two walks and three strikeouts. Matthew Lorenzetti would pick up his first win of the season. In the Bobcats win on Sunday Gary Binkiewicz, Robert Hitt, and Gregory Egan would combine on 3.1 innings allowing three hits, no walks, and seven strikeouts. Freshman Robert Hitt would pick up his third win of the year in Game 2. The pitching staff this weekend was aided by some tremendous defensive plays by shortstop Matthew Batten and second baseman Scott Donaghue, as they turned some beautiful double plays not allowing many balls to the outfield. Centerfielder Mike Palladino also contributed with key catches when the ball went deep. The Bobcats are in second place for team ERA 4.81 in the MAAC. They are also in second in MAAC in team fielding percentage at .969. At the end of the weekend, head coach John Delaney noted the importance of strong play on both sides of the ball.
“Our defense and pitching has to be what keeps us a float no matter what type of offensive day we get, and that’s what’s going to keep us in ball games,” Delaney said. “You saw today that you get tight situations where it’s a one run game, and it comes down to your defense and pitching. You have to have both those things in order to win.”
2. Taking care of home field
The Bobcats have also been taking care of business at home this season, posting a 3-1 record in Hamden this week. Quinnipiac got things started off with beating Northeastern on Tuesday, taking the game 5-1. They then took two of three from Fairfield with a 4-3 10 inning win on Friday afternoon, then coming back after dropping Saturday’s second game 8-4 to win 2-1 on Sunday. The team has posted a total home record of 7-2 on the year and have already surpassed last year’s six game home win total. The last time Quinnipiac won seven home games was in the 2011 season. The Bobcats are riding a hot hand, and have won 12 out of their last 15 games. The Bobcats were on the road for the most part early in the season and will play 14 out of their last 17 games at home. Six out of those 14 games are conference games. If the Bobcats keep up the way they are playing at home they could finish off the year very strong and remain atop the MAAC standings.
What do those two things equate to? A serious threat to win the conference. John Delaney has his team in prime position to win a MAAC regular season championship in his first year at the helm. His team is not only taking care of business against the lower tier teams in the conference but they are also executing the details of the game, bunting and base running.
3. Quinnipiac is a serious threat to win the MAAC
In both one run victories this weekend, the Bobcats utilized their speed and heady play. They rank tied for first in the MAAC in sacrifice bunts and tied for second in stolen bases. Delaney, only 29 years old, brings a younger, quicker mentality to the diamond. The former Quinnipiac standout had success as a player as well. Highlights of his career include two regular season Northeast Conference championships in 2005 and 2007, as well as a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2005. After Sunday’s win Delaney commented on his team’s success so far this season: “We are playing a different style of baseball then we were at the beginning of the year,” he said. “They’re all working toward the end goal, which is to be MAAC regular season champs and then MAAC tournament champs. That’s their end goal and that’s what there working towards right now.”
