Top-seeded Ravens crush program record matching six home runs to defeat sixth-seeded Pioneers in regional opener

RINDGE, N.H. (May 15, 2008) – Top-seeded and host Franklin Pierce University, ranked 14th in this week’s pingbaseball.com Division II poll and 21st in the Collegiate Baseball magazine rankings, belted a program-record matching six home runs in rolling to a 16-2 victory over sixth-seeded LIU-C.W. Post in game one of the 2008 NCAA Division II Northeast Regional Baseball Championship at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field today.

Franklin Pierce (40-12), which reaches the 40-win plateau for the third-straight year, will face the loser of today’s third game between fourth-seeded Caldwell College (32-17) and third-seeded and No. 26-ranked Southern Connecticut State University (36-17) Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. C.W. Post (29-26) will face the loser of today’s second game between fifth-seeded Dowling College (28-17) and second-seeded Bryant University (39-19) tomorrow at 11 a.m.

Franklin Pierce pounded out 20 hits (in 40 official at bats), including ten for extra bases and a program record matching six home runs, on the afternoon. The Ravens homered three times in their eight-run seventh inning to break the game open. All nine starters for Franklin Pierce collected hits, including six with two or more hits, and scored at least one run on the day. Seven of the nine Ravens who started also drove in a run.

“We have guys who can hit the ball hard with the aluminum (bats) and can hit the ball out,” said Franklin Pierce Head Coach Jayson King. “It’s only one game, but obviously winning the first one is a good start for us.”

Junior leftfielder Cliff Hicks (Merrimack, N.H./Merrimack) led the way for Franklin Pierce, going 4-for-5 with a program record matching two home runs, a stolen base and three RBI. Junior preseason All-American Scott Savastano (Plymouth, N.H./Plymouth North) hit 3-for-5 with a double, homer, three runs scored and three RBI, while classmate Steve Carr (Nahant, Mass./St. Mary’s) batted 3-for-4 with a double, home run, two runs scored and two RBI. Freshman Derek Ingui (Sterling, Mass./Wachusett Regional) finished 3-for-5 with a triple, RBI and two runs scored.

“It’s definitely an advantage when we get the aluminum (bats) in our hands,” said Hicks. “It gives us just that much more confidence at the plate.”

Junior righthander Mike Adams (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park), the Daktronics Northeast Region Pitcher of the Year, collected his program-record matching tenth win of the season (10-1), allowing an earned run on three hits and three walks with five strikeouts over six innings of work. Junior Vinny Gemma (Revere, Mass./St. John’s Prep) and freshman Robbie Beaudoin (Taunton, Mass./Somerset) combined to allow just an unearned run on five hits with a pair of strikeouts over the final three innings.

Junior Kyle Walker (Wantaugh, N.Y./Wantagh) batted 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and two RBI for C.W. Post. Senior Mike Sylvester (Farmingdale, N.Y./Sachem) hit 2-for-4 with two RBI.

Senior Kevin Gerard (Levittown, N.Y./Division Avenue) took the loss (5-4) on the mound for the Pioneers, yielding seven earned runs on nine hits with a strikeout and two walks over four innings.

“(Getting off to the fast start) definitely helps the guys relax and helps the batters,” said King. “People are expecting that we are going to play decent (at home), but when you are able to do it off the bat, it helps everybody.”

Franklin Pierce jumped on top early with a four-run first. Senior Matt Anderson (Medford, Mass./Medford) started the scoring with a two-run double, while Carr followed it up with a two-run homer to right center.

C.W. Post got on the board with a run in the third on just one hit. Senior Tim Sylvester (Farmingdale, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) was hit by an Adams pitch and Mike Sylvester walked, before Walker reached on a chopper in front of the plate that scored Tim Sylvester from third with two out. Franklin Pierce added three in the fourth as senior Kevin Renaud (Southbridge, Mass./Southbridge) belted a two-run homer to left center and Savastano collected an RBI double to right center.

The Pioneers added an unearned run in the seventh as Mike Sylvester reached with a bunt single and later scored on a ground rule double to right center by Walker after the inning was extended on an error. The Ravens answered by busting the game open with eight runs in the home half of the frame. Sophomore Kevin Rivers (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Eastern) got the inning started with a two-run homer to right (his fifth of the postseason). Hicks followed with his first homer of the afternoon, a two-run shot to center, while Ingui posted an RBI triple and Savastano delivered a two-run shot to cap the inning.

Hicks second homer of the day rounded out the scoring on the day in the eighth.

“Putting a 16-2 win on the board certainly sends a message to the rest of the teams that we are going to be tough to beat,” said Hicks.