JERSEY CITY, N.J. (Interstat) — Merrimack erupted for 11 runs on 17 hits and three pitchers combined on a two-hitter as the Warriors defeated Saint Peter’s 11-3 in the first game of a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader Sunday at Joseph J. Jaroschak Field.

Nick Hunkele earned the win, working 4 1/3 innings and allowing three earned runs on zero hits while striking out six. Michael Bradshaw followed with 2 2/3 hitless innings, fanning four, and Samuel Franco closed with two perfect innings, striking out three. Hunkele’s outing came eight days after he threw 8 1/3 innings of two-hit ball in a 4-2 win at Mount St. Mary’s.

Merrimack improved to 23-26 overall. Saint Peter’s fell to 5-44.

The Warriors sent 10 batters to the plate in a five-run second inning that broke the game open. Garrett McGovern led off with a single and Chris Scanlon walked before Chris Goode sacrificed them into scoring position. Jack Andrews delivered a two-run single up the middle, then stole second. After a groundout, Brooks Craigue was hit by a pitch, and Joe Frammartino singled up the middle to drive in Andrews. Greg Cristino walked to load the bases, and Jayden Hamilton cleared them with a two-run single. McGovern then walked to reload the bases before Scanlon struck out looking.

Merrimack added five more in the third. Goode led off with a solo home run. Andrews singled and Deshiro Matt doubled to put runners on second and third. After a lineout, Frammartino singled to right for two more runs. After a pitching change to Jackson Thorne, Cristino walked and Hamilton walked to load the bases. McGovern delivered a sacrifice fly to drive in Frammartino. Scanlon struck out looking to end the inning with an 11-0 lead.

Saint Peter’s answered in the bottom half. Allen Ramos singled, Joe Dwyer grounded out to move him to second, and Alex Manent walked. Bobby Lavely then crushed a three-run home run to right field, cutting the deficit to 11-3. It was Lavely’s only hit of the game in two at-bats plus three walks.

Hunkele settled down after the homer, striking out Chase Fogg to end the third. He worked a scoreless fourth and was replaced by Bradshaw after issuing a walk in the fifth. Bradshaw inherited a runner on second with one out and induced a double play to escape the inning. He retired seven of the eight batters he faced, striking out four.

Craigue finished 3-for-5 with an RBI, while Andrews went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two stolen bases. Frammartino was 2-for-5 with three RBIs, and Hamilton went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Goode had the home run among his one hit in four at-bats.

Thorne took the loss for Saint Peter’s, allowing one earned run on four hits in 3 2/3 innings with three strikeouts. Anthony Mancini threw three innings of relief, giving up one earned run on three hits with two strikeouts.

The Warriors scored their final run in the top of the sixth. Andrews walked, stole second, and scored on Craigue’s double to third base. McGovern added a sacrifice fly in the ninth to cap the scoring.

Franco retired the side in order in the seventh, allowed a hit in the eighth but struck out two, and worked a 1-2-3 ninth to seal the victory.

The game was the first of a doubleheader, with the teams having played the day before, when Merrimack won 16-5 on Friday. The Warriors next visit Maine on Tuesday, while Saint Peter’s travels to Rider on Thursday.

Merrimack’s 17 hits included eight for extra bases, while Saint Peter’s managed seven hits, with Lavely’s home run accounting for the only extra-base hit. The Warriors did not commit an error; Saint Peter’s had none.