Top-seeded Ravens defeat fifth-seeded Bryant, 5-2, for third Northeast Regional title in five years

RINDGE, N.H. (May 20, 2007) - Top-seeded Franklin Pierce, ranked 11^th in this week's Collegiate Baseball magazine poll, clinched its second-straight berth in the NCAA Division II Baseball Championships in Montgomery, Ala., with a 5-2 victory over fifth-seeded Bryant University to cap the 2007 NCAA Division II Northeast Regional at Dr. Arthur & Martha Pappas Field this afternoon.

Franklin Pierce (49-9) will face South Central region champions Angelo State University Saturday at Riverwalk Stadium at 2 p.m. (EDT). The Rams defeated 2006 World Series participant Montevallo twice to reach the Montgomery. The championships have been bumped up a day from past years, meaning the Ravens will again open on day two of the event. Bryant sees its season come to a close with a 34-24 record overall, 21-9 in the Northeast-10, after posting an 18-33 overall mark in 2006.

"Last year we were just happy to be down there," said senior captain Vinny Pennell (Spencer, Mass./David Prouty). "This time we have a lot of guys going back so we know what we need to do to win it."

Franklin Pierce junior leftfielder Kevin Renaud (Southbridge, Mass./Southbridge) was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Northeast Regional, hitting .500 (8-for-16) with five runs scored, four doubles, three home runs, a stolen base and nine RBI as the Ravens went a perfect 4-0 through the tournament. His NE-10 leading 65 RBI this season is a new single-season record at the College, breaking assistant coach Bryan Duplissie's previous mark of 62 in 2006.

Renaud also collected MVP honors of the Northeast-10 Tournament last weekend and has hit safely in 13-straight games, posting a .455 (25-for-55) batting average with 16 runs scored, nine doubles, a triple, five homers and 19 RBI in this stretch.

"I'm seeing the ball real well and not guessing right now," said Renaud. "I'm seeing the ball and hitting the ball. With the wind blowing out to right, I just tried to stay with the pitches."           

Joining Renaud on the regional All-Tournament team for the Ravens were senior second baseman Jake Christman (Newton, Mass./Newton South), who hit .385 (5-for-13) with two runs scored, a double, triple, two steals and two RBI, but perhaps more importantly was flawless in the field, playing error-free in 21 chances. Sophomore third baseman Scott Savastano (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth North) was also named to the All-Tournament team for the second-straight year, hitting .313 (5-for-16) with three runs scored, a double, triple and four RBI.

Junior right-hander Keith Renaud (Southbridge, Mass./Southbridge) earned an All-Tournament team spot after picking up his sixth win (6-2) of the season with seven shutout innings, scattering a pair of hits and three walks with ten strikeouts. Renaud held Bryant without a hit until All-Tournament team selection Mike Rocco (Tewksbury, Mass./Tewksbury) broke the string with a single to center with two out in the fourth.

"We got good starting pitching all weekend and I think Keith saved his best for last" said Franklin Pierce head coach Jayson King. "He came out and dominated for seven innings. When he has his fastball and slider going like he did today, he's unhittable."           

Twin brother Kevin Renaud embossed his MOP status by hitting 3-for-5 this afternoon with a pair of home runs, a stolen base and two RBI. Savastano was 2-4 with a home run, while freshman Kevin Rivers (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Eastern) finished 1-2 with a pair of walks.

Senior Vinny Pennell (Spencer, Mass./David Prouty) notched an RBI double in the fifth for his 248^th career hit - matching the program's career record set by former teammate Elliot Shea in last year's regional title game. Pennell also added a stolen base to pull within one of Shea's single-season record of 28 set in 2006.

"I was hoping to (get the record) today on our home field," said Pennell. "Hopefully I'll get a hit at the World Series."

All-Tournament selection Nick Campbell (Raynham, Mass./Bridgewater-Raynham) led Bryant as he hit 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Freshman Taylor Ferguson (Charlton, Mass./St. Johns) was 1-2 with a pair of walks, a stolen base and run scored, while junior Jason Alexander (Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) finished 1-3 with a double and run scored.

Junior right-hander Luke Cowan (Atlanta, Ga./Wilton) took the loss for the Bulldogs, allowing four earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts and two walks in five innings.           

Cowan retired the first two batters of the game, but for the first time in four regional contests, Franklin Pierce opened the scoring as Kevin Renaud ripped Cowan's first offering over the fence in left center. Savastano followed by depositing an 0-2 offering to nearly the same spot for his first homer of the season.

"After we made those first two outs, I thought ‘Ok we're going to be in for a dogfight today'", said King. "Then those two guys hit those home runs, I think it changed how I was feeling and how the guys in the dugout felt. Those were big strokes right there to get us going in the right direction."

While Keith Renaud was cruising on the mound, the Ravens added another pair in the fifth as senior Kim Hart (Gorham, Maine/Gorham) drew a lead off walk, was sacrificed to second, and scored on Pennell's double to right center. Kevin Renaud singled to push Pennell over to third and the duo executed an intentional run-down/double steal to allow Pennell to score the Ravens fourth run.

Franklin Pierce opened a 5-0 lead on Kevin Renaud's tenth home run of the year to leadoff the eighth. Bryant made a run in the home half as Ferguson led off with a walk and reached second on Alexander's double down the leftfield line. Campbell followed with a double to right center, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple.

"I think one of the biggest plays of the game was (Campbell) getting thrown out at third base," said King. "It was a big play because they would have had a guy at second base with none out, instead we had none on and one out. When he got thrown out, I knew we would be alright."

Junior Tyler Bishop (Milford, N.H./Milford), who entered the game just prior to Campbell's double, settled down from there to retire the last five batters to clinch the victory and punch the Ravens ticket to Montgomery, Ala.
           

"I can't say enough about our whole team really fighting it out this year and really having as good a year as you can possibly have," said King. "Hopefully we'll continue to play well in Alabama."

2007 NCAA Division II Northeast Regional
All-Tournament Team

P: Brent Almeida, Bryant
P: Keith Renaud, Franklin Pierce
DH: Jerod Edmondson, UMass Lowell
C: Chris Chiarappa, Caldwell
1B: Mike Rocco, Bryant
2B: Jake Christman, Franklin Pierce
SS: Mike Colonna, Adelphi
3B: Scott Savastano, Franklin Pierce
OF: Nick Campbell, Bryant
       Mike Testani, Adelphi

Most Outstanding Player: Kevin Renaud (OF), Franklin Pierce

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