Vazquez tosses shutout in second game

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (February 28, 2009) – Junior right-hander Kyle Vazquez (Berlin, Conn./Berlin) tossed a four-hit shutout in the second game on Saturday afternoon as the No. 5 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University baseball team split a non-conference road doubleheader against Adelphi at William J. Bonomo Memorial Field. Adelphi won the first game of the day, 2-0, while Franklin Pierce earned the split with a 1-0 victory in the second game.

Adelphi opened the scoring in the first game with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Senior center fielder Robert Paccione (Bayside, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) led off with a single to right field, stole second and moved to third on a groundout. Junior third baseman Chris Weidlein (Merrick, N.Y./Calhoun) followed with a single to left field to plate the first run of the game.

The Panthers would later add an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Senior second baseman Matthew Kenney (Florham Park, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a throwing error by senior right-hander Mike Adams (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park). Two batters later, Kenney moved to third on a groundout and later scored while senior right fielder Mike Tobia (Merrick, N.Y./Calhoun) reached on a throwing error by Franklin Pierce junior shortstop Cody Kauffman (Blue Bell, Pa./Univ. of Mass.).

Sophomore right-hander Keith Couch (Elmont, N.Y./Holy Trinity) started on the mound and pitched five shutout innings to earn the victory (1-0) for Adelphi. He surrendered five hits and struck out four. Senior right-hander Mike Colonna (Staten Island, N.Y./Moore Catholic) gave up one hit and struck out one over the final 1.2 innings to earn his first save of the season.

Adams went the distance on the rubber and took the loss (1-1) for Franklin Pierce. Over eight innings, he gave up two runs (one earned) on six hits, walked nobody, hit a batter and struck out four.

The second game of the afternoon was scheduled for seven innings, but neither team was able to push across a run in regulation. After seven scoreless innings, Franklin Pierce scored the only run of the contest in the top of the eighth. With one out, fifth-year center fielder Cliff Hicks (Merrimack, N.H./Merrimack HS) reached with a single, and then stole both second and third base. Two batters later, Hicks would score on an RBI single to right field by sophomore left fielder Derek Ingui (Sterling, Mass./Wachusett).

Vazquez went the distance on the hill to pick up the win (1-0) in the second game for Franklin Pierce. Over eight shutout innings, he allowed four hits, walked one and matched his career high with nine strikeouts.

Sophomore right-hander Robert Nixon (Welland, Ontario) started on the mound for Adelphi and did not factor in the decision. Over six shutout innings, he gave up four hits, walked nobody, hit a batter and struck out six. Junior left-hander Teddy Rohrs (Baldwin, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) pitched the eighth inning, gave up one run on two hits and took the loss (0-1)

The Ravens (1-1, 0-0 Norteast-10) return to the field on Saturday, March 7, when they travel to Philadelphia for a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for noon at Alumni Field in Philadelphia, Pa. Franklin Pierce’s first home game is scheduled for Thursday, March 26 against Southern New Hampshire at 3 p.m. Adelphi (1-1, 0-0 East Coast) returns to action on March 3 at home against New Haven.