Pirates Outlast Merrimack in Back-And-Forth Extra Innings Affair

Saturday, February 21

Charleston, S.C.

11:00 a.m.

Seton Hall University

3-1

Merrimack

1-2

Seton Hall

Merrimack

Pirates Outlast Merrimack in Back-And-Forth Extra Innings Affair

2/21/2026 11:02:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Charleston, S.C. – Eight different Pirates recorded at least one base hit as the Seton Hall baseball team gutted out a 11-10 extra innings victory over Merrimack in game two of the Swig & Swine Classic.

How it Happened
The Pirates got right to work with the bats, as Aidan Dill launched a solo home run to right field in the top of the first to give The Hall an early lead. Merrimack would quickly answer, putting a four spot on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first to go out in front.

After going quietly in the second and third innings, The Hall made some noise in the fourth. After a double and a hit batsman started the inning, freshman Ryan Strnad picked up his first career RBI with a double to left field. Two batters later, a throwing error from the Merrimack pitcher allowed two runs to come around and score to level things at 4-4. Seton Hall would continue to capitalize on that mistake, as Gabe Cavazzoni utilized that extra out with a sacrifice fly to center which gave the Pirates a 5-4 edge. Next, Dill drove in his second run of the day on an RBI double down the left field line which scored Jake Lopez from second.

After the Warriors got one run closer on a solo home run in the sixth, the Pirates got that run right back and then some in the seventh. Dill singled to lead off the frame, picking up his third hit of the ballgame. Next, Nick Tomasetto launched a two-run home run over the wall in center field to stretch the Seton Hall lead to 8-5. The Hall would not be done in the frame, as Lopez would beat out an infield single with the bases loaded later in the inning which allowed the ninth Pirate run to cross home plate.

Merrimack would rally late, plating three runs in the seventh to draw within a run. The back-and-forth nature of the game continued in the eighth, as Tomasetto doubled home Dill on a ball down the third base line to give Seton Hall a 10-8 lead. The Pirates would hold that lead until the bottom of the ninth, where Merrimack was able to plate a pair of runs on a two-out double to send the game to extra innings.

After both teams were unable to score in the 10^th, Seton Hall would go ahead for good in the 11^th. Cavazzoni reached with one out on an infield single, and later worked his way down to third after a steal and an errant throw. Cavazzoni would then sprint home on a tapper to first from Dill to give Seton Hall an 11-10 lead. The Warriors got the tying run into scoring position in the bottom of the 11^th, but Connor Byrne was able to come on and slam the door shut.

Up Next
The Pirates conclude their stay at the Swig & Swine Classic on Sunday morning at 10 a.m. when they take on George Mason.