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| Photo Credit: Adelphi Athletics |
The Adelphi Panthers (21-21) will travel to New Haven today to take on No.1 ranked Southern Connecticut State (24-14-1) in the first-round of the Northeast-10 conference playoffs at 3:30.
The two teams met three times this season, with the Owls taking two of three games, the Panthers won 4-3 with John Bivas recording the victory.
It will be very important for the Panthers to get depth from their starting pitcher, John Mulford. He has been their most consistent pitcher this season, compiling a 2.84 ERA in 57 innings while holding the opposition to a .222 AVG. Ideally, he will pitch into the seventh inning, so the Panthers can stick to their most reliable relievers; Mike Cranston, Matt Abramowitz and John Donnelly. Those three have the ability to throw strikes and strike batters out in big situations.
Adelphi will be relying on their tremendous middle-of-the-order duo of Rich Mejia (.390 AVG, .430 OBP 38 RBI) and Cliff Brantley (.405 AVG, .443 OBP, 30 R). Both hitters are extremely difficult to strike out and are potent in clutch spots. Eric Hassell and Vincent Sharkey both had fine seasons but the Owls know who are the most dangerous hitters in the lineup.
They will most likely be facing Rocco Cundari, who threw a shutout against them earlier in the season. He is currently 5-2 with a 0.85 ERA in 74 innings.
The Panthers will need to deal with a lineup that hit .295 for the season, which features five regulars that hit over .300. Six hitters drove in more than 20 runs, and T.K. Kiernan just might be the most dangerous.
It will be a difficult game for the Panthers, but they are familiar with So. Co. and if the Panthers get a good outing from Mulford they will have a better-than-decent chance to pull off the upset.
The Panthers are trying to win their first playoff game since 2011, they failed to qualify in ’12 and were bounced in the first-round last season by New Haven.
