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.