Adams strikes out 13 to match career high

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. (March 19, 2009) – Senior right-hander Mike Adams (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) matched his career high with 13 strikeouts on Thursday evening, but the nationally ranked (RV/22) Franklin Pierce University baseball team was defeated, 2-1, by St. Thomas Aquinas in 12 innings in neutral-site, non-conference play at Lynn University’s McCusker Sportsplex. Sophomore outfielder Derek Ingui (Sterling, Mass./Wachusett Regional) drove in the only run of the game for Franklin Pierce.

The Ravens scored their lone run of the game in the top of the sixth inning. Fifth-year outfielder Cliff Hicks (Merrimack, N.H./Merrimack HS) led off and reached second base on a throwing error by the third baseman. After a sacrifice bunt by senior Jacob Ferreira (Westport, Mass./Bishop Stang) moved Hicks to third, Ingui lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to drive home the run.

However, St. Thomas Aquinas would win in final at-bat fashion in the bottom of the 12th inning, when a single through the middle scored the winning run from second.

Adams started on the mound and did not factor in the decision for Franklin Pierce. Over 7.2 innings, he gave up one run on five hits, walked three and struck out 13. Sophomore right-hander Rob Nicholas (Northboro, Mass./Algonquin Regional) pitched the final 1.2 innings and took the loss (0-1) for the Ravens. He surrendered one run on two hits, walked three and struck out two.

The Ravens (6-8, 0-0 Norteast-10) return to the field on Friday, March 20, for a neutral-site, non-conference doubleheader against Molloy. First pitch is scheduled for noon at Santaluces Sportsplex in Lantana, Fla. Franklin Pierce’s first home game is scheduled for Thursday, March 26 against Southern New Hampshire at 3 p.m. St. Thomas Aquinas (3-10, 0-0 East Coast) returns to action on March 20 against Southern Connecticut State.