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Category: Baseball

  • Report card: How baseball is faring at the mid-season point

    Report card: How baseball is faring at the mid-season point

    By: Benjamin Yeargin, Brandon Murdock, & Connor Wilson

    After sweeping Niagara last weekend, Quinnipiac baseball is officially halfway through its 30-game MAAC schedule. The Bobcats are 10-5 in league play, putting them tied for second with Rider and 1.5 games behind 10-2 Fairfield for first in the conference. 

    At the midpoint, QU Sports Page’s Benjamin Yeargin, Brandon Murdock and Connor Wilson handed out some grades to assess Quinnipiac’s performance, broken up by the different parts of the game.

    Offense: A+

    Offense is not the problem for Quinnipiac. The Bobcats lead the MAAC in batting average, home runs and slugging percentage in conference play.

    Senior infielder CJ Willis is spearheading the sticks. The Auburn, Massachusetts native is slashing .484/.548/1.016 with eight home runs, five doubles and 34 RBIs. Head coach John Delaney has Willis batting third.

    Willis is among five Bobcats who have an OPS above .900, joining sophomore infielder Kyle Garbowski, junior catcher Christian Smith, junior infielder Alex Irizarry and graduate infielder Johnny Knox. Graduate infielder Sebastian Mueller joins the above five with an on-base percentage north of .400 as well.

    In seven of Quinnipiac’s 15 MAAC games, it has scored double-digit runs. The Bobcats haven’t scored less than four runs in a conference game this season. 

    Quinnipiac is getting starters out of games early too. In MAAC play, the longest a starter has lasted against the Bobcats was Niagara’s junior right-hander Matthew DelVecchio going 6.1 innings on April 4 in an extra-innings 7-5 Quinnipiac win. 

    When Quinnipiac loses, it’s not because of the offense. The bats have been blazing, which is why the Bobcats deserve an A+ for their offensive production in MAAC play.

    – Yeargin

    Starting pitching: C-

    The starting pitching for the Quinnipiac Bobcats has been a bit of a roller coaster this season. Starting off in non-conference action, there was only one starter who went at least five innings in a start over the course of the first 11 games of the season. Nick Balcom, who went five innings against UNC Wilmington on Feb. 14, allowing two earned runs and recording four strikeouts.

    Since the start of MAAC play, the rotation, bulked by freshman Sam Wright and juniors Matt Alduino and Mike Poncini, have given the team more length at the beginning of games. Each have gone at least five innings multiple times, but have yet to find consistency. None of these starters have an earned run average below five.

    The rotation has been defined as Wright being the Friday starter, typically set for the team’s ace, followed by Poncini on Saturday, and Alduino on Sundays to close out the series.

    Wright has been the standout for this team so far in his first year, with his best start coming on March 21st against Marist when he pitched five innings and recorded four strikeouts while only allowing two earned runs. 

    Despite that game, Wright still holds a 5.29 ERA, followed by Alduino at 6.85, and Poncini at 7.88. 

    It’s clear that the offense for this team will just about always produce, the pitching needs to keep up and that begins with the starters. 

    The team currently sits at seventh in the conference in pitching with a 7.24 team ERA and a lot of that has come from the starters. 

    The length that the starters have been able to give since the start of conference play and the emergence of Wright are the only things keeping the starting pitching from a lower grade. 

    – Murdock

    Relief pitching: B-

    The bullpen has been a little more consistent, but definitely has some room for improvement in the back half of the MAAC schedule. In conference play, the Bobcats have four primary relievers with an ERA under 4.50, but also have three primary relievers with ERAs north of 8.00.

    Starting with the good, junior Andrew Rubayo has a team low 3.60 ERA in conference play (not counting infielder Johnny Knox’s scoreless outing). Rubayo allowed just one earned run in his first nine innings in MAAC play, but has struggled a bit in his past two outings giving up five runs in seven innings. Senior Ryan Hutchison had a rough day on March 16 against Rider when he allowed five runs in 1.2 innings, but besides that hasn’t allowed a run in any of his outings all season.

    Balcom has made four of his five MAAC appearances out of the bullpen. He had his best outing of the year on March 14 when he pitched five scoreless innings on the road against Rider. The final reliever with a solid ERA, first year JC Franconere, allowed just two runs in his first nine innings before allowing four in 3.1 in his last inning.

    Then there’s the bad. 

    Graduate student Jack Kabel has been solid overall this season, but has allowed four runs in 4.1 innings to the tune of an 8.31 ERA in league play. First year Griffin Seibel has allowed multiple runs in three of his four outings including five on  March 14 against Rider. Finally, graduate student Ryan O’Connell allowed five runs without recording an out on April 4 against Niagara which ballooned his MAAC ERA to 16.20.

    For the most part, the positives outweigh the negatives in the Quinnipiac bullpen. Most of the pitchers who have struggled in conference play have had one bad outing inflate their stats, while the arms who have been solid have strung together multiple good outings in a row. If you’re Delaney, you’d like to have as many relief pitchers as possible to rely on in big situations, so cleaning some things up in the back end will be crucial for the second half of MAAC play. 

    – Wilson

    Defense: B-

    To consistently win ball games, you need all three facets of the game to be working in tandem. Thankfully for the Bobcats, the defense hasn’t been that big of an issue. But it hasn’t been that great either. 

    Their 18 errors is eighth in the MAAC, not unbearable but not good enough to be an elite defensive team. Quinnipiac has turned 10 double plays, which both indicates that the Bobcat pitchers force grounders and the middle infield pair of Knox and Irizarry can twist it.

    But in the same breath, both Knox and Irizarry have some errors. Knox leads the squad with four and Irizarry is tied for third with two. 

    Behind the plate, Smith and redshirt freshman catcher Cole Constable have been good. They’ve allowed one and two past balls, respectively. In throwing out runners, Smith hasn’t gunned one runner down this year. Constable has caught three runners stealing and a smattering of pitchers have the other four caught stealing attempts. 

    Quinnipiac needs to improve its defense — mainly in limiting errors on ground balls — to continue its MAAC success.

    – Yeargin

  • Quinnipiac baseball is off to a strong MAAC start, but consistency remains key

    Quinnipiac baseball is off to a strong MAAC start, but consistency remains key

    By: Carlos Calo, Sam Vetto and Tyler Platz

    With MAAC play in full swing, Quinnipiac baseball is already battling for positioning within the conference. After three series against conference opponents Iona, Rider, and Marist, the Bobcats have posted a 6-3 record in those nine games, providing a solid sample of what’s to come in their conference schedule.

    Quinnipiac vs. Iona: Quinnipiac wins series 3-0

    Offense leads the way: The Bobcats succeed when they put the bat on the ball. They have two players with at least a .500 OBP: junior catcher/designated hitter Christian Smith and graduate third baseman Sebastian Mueller. 

    Power is also present with 27 home runs in 22 games. In the first game of the series, Quinnipiac took the lead and never looked back led by a two-run home run from Smith. In the second game, Quinnipiac won 8-4 aided by standout performances from Smith and Mueller, both going 3-4, as well as senior right fielder CJ Willis, who went 2-3 with two RBIs. 

    Pitching still needs work: The Bobcats’  team ERA is 7.84, which turns heads, but the more concerning number is the walk and strikeout numbers. At 137 walks and 156 strikeouts through 22 games, Quinnipiac has walked more and struck out fewer batters than opponents. Game 1 was the only one of the series where things got dicey on the mound.

    In the 15-8 victory, only one unearned run was given up, but four runs were off of freshman starting pitcher Samuel Wright. The other three were given up by the bullpen in the sixth and eighth innings. This is something that can change in a few outings as numbers can swing, but it’s certainly something the Bobcats should look at improving.

    Depth and flexibility shine: On the positive side, the Bobcats were able to get long performances out of their starter and reliever. Juniors Mike Poncini (four innings pitched) and Andrew Rubayo (three innings pitched) brought the team most of the way, only allowing three runs.

    In the final game, Quinnipiac jumped out to a lead and was able to coast the rest of the game en route to a 12-3 win. Junior pitcher Matt Alduino had a stellar performance, dealing eight innings and allowing zero earned runs. He did all of this with only two strikeouts, avoiding barrels and taking advantage of soft contact. That late-game control was on display in the series sweep, as Quinnipiac’s pitching staff kept Iona in check while the batters provided run support.

    “One of the biggest things we’ve emphasized all preseason has really been just winning the seven, eight, nine innings,” head coach John Delaney said. “That is the key piece, being a team that can control the game to get to the seventh, and If we’re in the lead we have to own the seventh, eighth, ninth.”

    Quinnipiac at Rider: Quinnipiac wins series 2-1

    Strong start, missed opportunity for a sweep: Quinnipiac came out dominant in games one and two, securing the series win early and extending its winning streak to six games. The Bobcats had a chance to sweep Rider on the road, but couldn’t close it out in the third game.

    While winning the series is a huge positive, failing to finish the sweep shows there’s still room for growth in terms of consistency and execution. Rider scored every inning they batted in Game 3, winning 19-9.

    Explosive offense, but inconsistent in the finale: Quinnipiac’s offense was on fire in the first two games, putting up 10+ runs in the first and continuing its hot hitting in the second. The Bobcats scored an impressive eight runs in the ninth inning starting with a double from graduate second baseman Johnny Knox and then junior shortstop Alex Irizarry put the cherry on top to complete the comeback with a three-run home run to put the Bobcats ahead by six, 12-6, after entering the inning losing by two.

    However, the bats cooled off in the third game, leading to their only loss of the series and highlighting the need for offensive consistency. When they’re clicking, they’re capable of scoring a lot, as shown in outbursts of 12, 15, and 21 runs. Sustaining that production across a full series will be key.

    Pitching was solid, but depth will be tested: The Bobcats’ pitching staff held Rider in check in the first two games, setting the tone for the series. However, in the third game, they allowed more runs, which suggests either fatigue or a lack of bullpen depth played a role. In this series the pitching went from better to worse, allowing more runs each game. Moving the pieces correctly on the pitching side will be crucial for the Bobcats moving forward, especially for the back end of the series. 

    Winning a road series at Rider after sweeping Iona is a strong start to conference play for Quinnipiac, showing it can compete with top MAAC teams. The Broncs were second and the Bobcats were fourth in the 2025 preseason coaches poll. If they can find a way to stay consistent offensively and solidify their pitching depth, they’ll be a tough team to beat moving forward.

    Quinnipiac vs. Marist: Marist wins series 2-1

    Allowing runners into scoring position: The Bobcats made things more difficult for themselves by allowing Marist to repeatedly get into scoring position inning after inning. In the 12-4 win to open the series, Quinnipiac played sound defense for the most part, riding the multiple-run lead. However, the losses in the other two games told a different story.

    In the second game, Marist reached second base multiple times in the first two innings, capitalizing on three hits that led to three runs. In the third game, the Red Foxes got into scoring position in each of the first six innings, scoring seven runs on nine hits in the 7-4 win. Quinnipiac needs to limit scoring opportunities if it plans to stay competitive in conference play, and that starts with keeping opponents off the base paths.

    Pitching change impact: In previous series, Quinnipiac had seen great outings by its starting pitchers getting them to pitch for multiple innings and hold on to leads. Wright had a five-inning quality start followed by three strong innings from Rubayo. However, Games 2 and 3 were plagued with pitching inconsistencies, leading to a revolving door of arms on the mound.

    Poncini and sophomore Nick Balcom each allowed three runs in the second game, forcing the Bobcats to use four different pitchers throughout the day. After the first couple of plays, you can tell the flavor of the game, and in the third game, Alduino had a horrific start that put Quinnipiac in a hole. In the top of the second, the left-hander gave up three hits that led to four early runs for Marist. 

    “We need better pitching, and that was kind of the difference maker,” Delaney said. “You get four innings from your starters, that’s the killer.”

    Consistency from Quinnipiac’s mound staff is imperative to competing for a conference championship and stretching the bullpen thin doesn’t align with that consistency.

    Consistency will define the season: Through three MAAC series, Quinnipiac baseball has showcased its offensive firepower, proving it can go toe-to-toe with conference opponents. With a 6-3 record against Iona, Rider, and Marist, the Bobcats have positioned themselves as a legitimate contender, but inconsistencies—particularly on the mound—highlight areas for improvement.

    While the lineup continues to produce at a high level, pitching depth and control will be crucial in determining how far this team can go. As conference play heats up, Quinnipiac has the potential to make a serious push, but tightening up on the defensive side will be the key to sustaining success.

    The Bobcats face Rhode Island for a non-conference mid-week matchup on Tuesday ahead of a three-game series against Manhattan starting Friday.

  • Creating Quinnipiac baseball’s ideal starting lineup ahead of MAAC play

    Creating Quinnipiac baseball’s ideal starting lineup ahead of MAAC play

    By Ethan Hurwitz and Mike King

    The first couple of games of Quinnipiac baseball’s 2025 season were as wonky as could be. The team was in competitive games against nationally-ranked Georgia before winning a series against Radford. Tack on a week-long stretch where the Bobcats allowed 39 runs to Morehead State and a home tie against UMass, and the team currently sits at 4-6-1 heading into MAAC play this weekend.

    After a 10-14 conference record last season, the Bobcats are looking to right their wrongs and prove that they can compete with the best the MAAC has to offer. After missing the conference tournament in 2024, the Bobcats are hoping to get back into postseason play. But overall, it’s been a shaky start for the entire conference, as just four teams currently sit over .500 (Quinnipiac, Fairfield, Mount St. Mary’s and Rider).

    QU Sports Page’s Ethan Hurwitz and Mike King create the ideal lineup after the Bobcats’ first 11 out-of-conference games, including a look toward their first weekend of MAAC play.

    1. Sean McCulloch | Left Field | Graduate Student

    Stats: 10 games, .349 batting average, one double, one triple, 10 RBIs, 14 runs, six steals, 10 walks

    Through the first 11 games of the young season, the Bobcats have had few bright spots. McCulloch has been one of those so far. With 15 hits in 10 games (the second-most on the roster), McCulloch has provided a spark at the plate, as well as on the basepaths. McCulloch leads the team with six stolen bases on seven attempts.

    Head coach John Delaney assigned graduate infielder Johnny Knox to leadoff for the first three games, but McCulloch has had the leadoff job for every game since. In his final season at Division III Susquehanna last year, he led his team in batting average, walks and stolen bases. McCulloch is picking up right where he left off last spring and looks to continue to bring the Bobcats some energy in the early part of the batting order, as well as the field, where he’s yet to commit an error. 

    2. Kyle Garbowski | First Base | Sophomore

    Stats: 11 games, .255 batting average, two doubles, 10 RBIs, 13 runs, one steal, four walks

    Garbowski’s role in his second season in Hamden has been similar to his freshman year, as one of the team’s daily players from the get-go. Typically slotted into the Bobcats’ two-hole, he’s been a consistent hitter and is leading the roster with 51 at-bats to start the year.

    In this spot, Garbowski provides a young spark to the top half of the Bobcats’ order, giving them the energy they need to carry out longer, uglier innings for the opposition’s pitching.

    3. Sebastian Mueller | Third Base | Graduate Student

    Stats: 11 games, .413 batting average, three doubles, four home runs, 18 RBIs, 15 runs, nine walks

    After suffering a labrum injury his senior year, Mueller has returned to the middle of the Bobcats’ lineup, firing on all cylinders. 

    “I feel good,” Mueller told The Quinnipiac Chronicle before the season. “Arm feels good. I think about arm injuries that a lot of times like the rehab you probably overlook parts of arm care. I feel better now than I was before I got hurt.”

    If this is the case, expect Mueller to tear up the opposition this season, making up for last season, where he only appeared in 11 games. Mueller already leads the team through the first 11 games this year with four home runs, proving that his power will be of useful service in the three spot.

    4. Alex Irizarry | Shortstop | Junior

    Stats: 11 games, .286 batting average, four doubles, two home runs, four RBIs, seven runs, one steal, four walks

    Irizarry joined the Bobcats ahead of this season, and parlayed a really strong summer with the Norwich Sea Unicorns of The Futures Collegiate Baseball League into a solid start to his junior year. The team’s starting shortstop has bounced around the middle of the lineup this season, but sticking him at cleanup can give this team some bat control and power — ideally with some runners on.

    Second on the team thus far with six extra base hits, Irizarry is an all-around package deal out of the cleanup spot and will rely on his patience and approach to help the team score much-needed runs.

    5. Christian Smith | Catcher | Junior

    Stats: 11 games, .405 batting average, two doubles, three home runs, 19 RBIs, nine runs, two steals, 12 walks

    The junior catcher had a lot of success at the plate last season, slashing .275, ten home runs, and 37 RBI. Out of the five spots, Smith provides valuable experience with both poise and pop.

    As a catcher, Smith knows game situations intricately, and this attention to detail will likely lead to success for the offense when he steps up to the plate. It appears that Smith will stay in the lineup as designated hitter when redshirt transfer Cole Constable gets the call to do the catching, proving that Smith’s bat is too valuable to leave out of the order.

    6. CJ Willis | Right Field | Senior

    Stats: Nine games, .111 batting average, two RBIs, three runs, five steals, five walks

    The start to 2025 hasn’t been the strongest for Willis, but it’s hard to ignore the pop he has coming out of the batter’s box. Chosen as a Preseason All-MAAC selection, he played in 49 games for the Bobcats a year ago and is hard to leave out of th lineup. Willis — who drove in 42 runs and smashed eight home runs – will look to find this offensive efficiency heading into conference play

    Quinnipiac has also gone with James Marino and Luke Zeisloft in the outfield this season, but Willis’ experience and offensive potential makes him hard to sit for those guys, even when Willis has struggled this month.

    7. Johnny Knox | Second Base | Graduate Student

    Stats: 11 games, .233 batting average, three doubles, one triple, two RBIs, seven runs, five steals, seven walks

    A graduate transfer from Nichols College, Knox bumped his way down the lineup after starting the first three games of the year at leadoff. As a vocal leader for this team, Knox provides an invaluable component to Quinnipiac, and his speed in the basepaths also are deserving of a starting role.

    Knox has proven to be a pest for opposing teams so far, stealing five bases and getting on base by any means necessary. However, with a team leading 13 strikeouts, Knox needs to cut down on the swing-and-misses if he wants to move back up the lineup, where his high motor can be of use.

    8. Cole Constable | Catcher | Redshirt Freshman

    Stats: Seven games, .320 batting average, one double, one triple, six RBIs, six runs, five steals, three walks

    After spending his first season with the Maryland Terrapins, Constable transferred to Quinnipiac with four years of eligibility. He started the season platooning with Christian Smith behind the plate, and now the redshirt freshman has carved out his role as the team’s primary backstop.

    At the plate, Constable has been a solid player in his first season in Hamden. Despite striking out in every game he’s played in but one, Constable adds power and bat speed to the lineup. Tack on his solid glove skills — he’s yet to make an error and has made 61 putouts — and he’s set for a strong future behind the dish for the Bobcats.

    9. Gabe Wright | Center Field | Junior

    Stats: Eight games, .192 batting average, two doubles, five runs, four steals, five walks

    Wright is the prototypical double leadoff hitter in today’s baseball. His fielding ability, including a diving grab that made SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays, keeps him as a useful player for the Bobcats. His speed in the basepaths is what has kept him in the lineup. 

    His four steals already surpass his season total from last year (one), and his knack of getting on base in any way possible (five walks, two hit by pitches) is the perfect style of play to turn the Bobcats’ lineup over every game. Wright may not be the strongest bat in the dugout, but he’s a sparkplug player who should get written into the lineup card.

    Starting Pitcher: Mike Poncini | Junior

    Stats: Three starts, 1-0 W/L, 3.37 earned run average, 14 strikeouts, eight walks, four earned runs

    Through the Bobcats’ out-of-conference schedule, Poncini — one of two Quinnipiac starters with three starts under his belt — has been the best starting pitcher on the team so far.. He leads all starters with a 3.37 earned run average, and is tied for the team lead with 10.2 innings pitched. 

    Poncici and junior Matt Alduino are the only two pitchers to surpass that 10 innings mark, and Alduino struggled in a March 2 game at Morehead State. On the other hand, Poncini is coming off of two-straight starts with at least five strikeouts. 

    “From a pitching standpoint, we lost a lot of arms, just to the transfer portal and then along with graduation,” Alduino told The Quinnipiac Chronicle before the year. “We kind of rebuilt over the summer, and just kind of changed our perspective on how we want to go about the season as a full team. … We’re building up around eight guys that could be potential starters.”

    Whether our recommended lineup is used in Friday’s MAAC opener against Iona or not, the Bobcats will continue to find their best starting nine in hopes of returning to the conference tournament for the first time in two seasons.

  • Quinnipiac baseball schedule breakdown: Six series to watch out for in 2025

    Quinnipiac baseball schedule breakdown: Six series to watch out for in 2025

    Last year, optimism spilled from the locker room of the 2024 Quinnipiac baseball team, which had been voted to finish No. 2 in the MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll. All foretold a promising season. Instead, the team subsequently went 20-30, finished eighth in the MAAC and missed the postseason tournament entirely. 

    Now, a clean slate presents itself. The Bobcats will play 53 games in 2025, giving them 53 opportunities to find the magic that could bring the program its first MAAC championship since 2019. They were selected to finish No. 4 this season, naming one player, outfielder CJ Willis, to the preseason All-MAAC Team. 

    With the season looming, we will break down six key matchups inside Quinnipiac’s 2025 schedule, analyzing the implications each one could have on the Bobcats’ season. 

    No. 11 Georgia Bulldogs 

    Feb. 14 (12 p.m.) and Feb. 15 (12 p.m.) – Wilmington, North Carolina

    Quinnipiac will play four games in three days to start its season, traveling to Wilmington to play No. 8 Georgia and UNC Wilmington twice each. The Bulldogs specifically will be quite a difficult matchup for the Bobcats, who have not beaten a nationally-ranked opponent since their 2019 season that ended in a MAAC championship. Quinnipiac scored eight runs Feb. 23 to hand then-No. 20 ranked Wake Forest a loss.

    Georgia finished 2024 with a 43-17 record, making a run all the way to an NCAA Tournament’s Super Regional, the equivalent of a quarterfinal round. The Bobcats may be outmatched against a high-profile opponent, but it will be a good opportunity nonetheless to see how the team competes against notable competition. It is also a good opportunity to see how the team will line up on the diamond. Quinnipiac had some serious roster turnover from 2024 to 2025, losing 21 players from last year including a handful of top starters like catcher Keegan O’Connor, center fielder Jared Zimbardo and designated hitter/first baseman Sean Swenson. 

    The stakes for these two games are low, but a commendable performance from Quinnipiac could wash away the bad taste of last season’s underperformance and set the tone for 2025. Georgia will be one of the best teams — if not the best — the Bobcats play this year and it will be fun to watch the Bobcats match up against a Power 5 roster If Quinnipiac can show some signs of life against one of the SEC’s best, it could be a positive sign of things to come later in the season. 

    – Zachary Carter

    Iona Gaels 

    March 7 (3 p.m.), March 8 (2 p.m.), March 9 (1 p.m.) – Hamden

    Jumping ahead to the weekend of March 7, the Bobcats return to Hamden, squaring off against the Iona Gaels in a three-game clash, their first series in MAAC play in the 2025 season. Iona finished with an underwhelming 12-38 record last spring, giving the Bobcats a chance to take an early advantage in conference standings.

    In 2024, Quinnipiac won all three games against Iona, scoring 27 runs in as many innings. Throughout 50 contests, the Gaels had the third-highest earned run average in the MAAC, allowing close to eight earned runs per nine innings. Additionally, they ranked No. 4 total earned runs allowed and No. 2 in walks. To take advantage of this, veteran players like graduate first baseman Sebastian Mueller need to keep the offense hot. Although he only appeared in 11 games, Mueller is coming off his best season at the plate, hitting .357 in 2024 and is poised to improve again as he steadily has in his four years in Hamden. 

    When they met Iona in 2024,, the Bobcats had a 6-18 record.  Their sweep of the Gaels allowed them to finish the season on a good note, going 14-12 to end the campaign. If the Bobcats can get out on the right foot against a conference opponent, history could repeat itself for Quinnipiac, allowing it to go on another positive run as they approach other MAAC foes like Rider and Marist to wrap up March.

    – Michael King

    UConn Huskies 

    April 1(3 p.m.) – Storrs

    April 1 marks the first meeting between these two in-state rivals since 2017. The all-time series between Quinnipiac and UConn is a bit lopsided, with the Huskies taking 12 of 17 games and winning the last seven. But, much like Georgia, UConn will be a good gauge for Quinnipiac to assess where the team is at around the halfway mark of the season. 

    The Huskies are typically one of the nation’s best teams. They’re the favorites to win the Big East this year and are a staple in NCAA postseason play, having appeared in the NCAA tournament every year since 2018 (minus the canceled COVID season in 2020). With this game being played midweek, the Bobcats won’t have to face one of UConn’s top starters. Stealing a win in Storrs could ignite a strong push in the back half of MAAC play and give the Bobcats the confidence they might need to make a late-season push.

    – Zachary Carter 

    Niagara Purple Eagles 

    April 4 (3 p.m.), April 5 (2 p.m.), April 6 (12 p.m.) – Lewiston, New York

    Three days after Quinnipiac challenges UConn, the Bobcats will travel to western New York for a three game weekend series with Niagara. If the Bobcats can pull off an upset win in Storrs, they could ride into this series with some serious momentum against a formidable conference opponent.

    The Purple Eagles, 2024’s MAAC champions, come in at sixth place in the preseason coaches poll. They saw two of their best players from the previous season leave for the MLB draft, with junior first baseman Eric Rataczak and sophomore pitcher Ryan Minckler being drafted by the Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals, respectively. Rataczak had one of the best seasons in Niagara history last season, leading the MAAC in batting average (.396), OPS (1.183), RBI (71) and OBP (.485).

    Without these players for the spring season, Quinnipiac matches up much more favorably this time around. 

    Last time around, Rataczak had three hits, two RBI and drew five walks in a three-game sweep of Quinnipiac at home. A series win in the early stages of the second half of the season could provide some crucial fuel to the fire if the Bobcats want to go on a hot run down the stretch in MAAC play.

    – Michael King

    Merrimack Warriors

    April 11 (3 p.m.), April 12 (1 p.m.), April 13 (1 p.m.) – Hamden

    2025 is the inaugural season for Merrimack in the MAAC. They’re not projected to have a stellar year — voted to finish just ninth in the preseason coaches poll — but they’ll play the Bobcats in a mid-April series that could spell trouble if Quinnipiac does not approach the three games with caution. 

    Quinnipiac is a team that has not played well on the road in recent years. Dating back to 2020, the Bobcats are 32-91 in the past five seasons when playing games away from Hamden. Coming into this Merrimack series, they will have played five straight games on the road against two state schools in UConn and URI, bracketed by a three-game series against the defending MAAC champion Niagara Purple Eagles.

    If the Bobcats might hit a skid at any point in the season, here makes the most sense.

    Head coach John Delaney and his team will have to take advantage of what should be a struggling Warriors squad and take care of business when Quinnipiac might need a series win the most. The Bobcats and Warriors have met three times in the two programs’ histories, all of which came last year. Quinnipiac beat Merrimack both at home and on the road, including an impressive 21-3 win in early March. 

    – Zachary Carter

    Sacred Heart Pioneers  

    May 15 (3 p.m.), May 16 (1 p.m.), May 17 (1 p.m.) – Fairfield

    The Bobcats finish their regular season with a three three-game  MAAC series. The final opponent of that stretch is Sacred Heart, a newcomer to the MAAC. With a respectable 35-23 record in 2024, the Pioneers are looking to make some noise in a brand new setting. The Bobcats and Pioneers have a 51-game history, with Sacred Heart narrowly in front in the all-time matchup at 27-24. 

    Once again, the inability to consistently win on the road over the past five years could be a major hill to climb, so Quinnipiac will need to be extra focused if it wants to extend its season. A repeat of last spring, which saw the Bobcats finish 3-7 in their final ten contests, would be detrimental with teams like Canisius and Mount St. Mary’s looming for a playoff berth.

    Depending on how the Bobcats handle earlier opponents this season, this final series could be a make-or-break for them if they want to be a disruptor in the postseason. 

    – Michael King