Vazquez tosses three-hit shutout in first game

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

LANTANA, Fla. (March 20, 2009) – Junior right-hander Kyle Vazquez (Berlin, Conn./Berlin) threw a three-hit shutout on Friday afternoon to lead the nationally ranked (RV/22) Franklin Pierce University baseball team to a 1-0 victory over Molloy in the first game of a neutral-site, non-conference doubleheader at Santaluces Sportslplex. Molloy won the second game of the twin bill, 3-1, behind a three-hitter from freshman right-hander Justin Jorgensen (Bethpage, N.Y./St. Dominic).

The Ravens scored the only run of the first game in the top of the seventh inning to come away with the victory. Sophomore left fielder Derek Ingui (Sterling, Mass./Wachusett Regional) led off the inning and singled up the middle. Senior second baseman Ted Lerud (Hampden, Mass./Minnechaug Regional) followed and reached on a fielder’s choice which saw Ingui safe at second as well on a throwing error by the pitcher. Senior first baseman Steve Carr (Nahant, Mass./Lake City CC) then grounded to third, but once again everybody was safe, this time on an error by the third baseman. Junior Kevin Rivers (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Eastern) came to the plate as a pinch hitter and knocked a single to right to drive home Ingui from third.

Meanwhile Vazquez was busy authoring a three-hit shutout to pick up the win (4-0) on the mound for Franklin Pierce. Over seven innings, he walked one and struck out six.

Sophomore right-hander Steven Stewart (Levittown, N.Y./W.T. Clarke) went the distance on the hill and took the loss (0-3) for Molloy. Over seven innings, he gave up just one unearned run on three hits, walked three and struck out five.

Franklin Pierce opened the scoring in the second game with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out, Carr reached on an error by the first baseman and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. He then scored from second when Lerud followed with an RBI single down the left-field line.

However, Molloy would rally for the win with three runs in the top of the sixth inning. With two outs, sophomore third baseman Joseph Menendez (Washington Heights, N.Y./Xaverian) knocked a single through the middle and was replaced by a pinch runner, freshman Frank Marchisello (Staten Island, N.Y./Moore Catholic), who moved to second on a single to left field by sophomore right fielder Robert LaRusso (Bayside, N.Y./St. Francis Prep). Junior catcher Brian Benes (Omaha, Neb./Labette CC) then drove in Marchisello with a single to right field, as runners ended up on second and third after the throw came to the plate. After a walk loaded the bases, senior shortstop Patrick Walsh (Bellmore, N.Y./Holy Trinity) was hit by a pitch to drive in LaRusso from third and then senior designated hitter Steven Rodriguez (Corona, N.Y./Newtown) worked another walk to score Benes.

Jorgensen went the distance and tossed a three-hitter to pick up the win (3-0) on the rubber in the second game for Molloy. Over seven innings, he allowed just one unearned run, walked two, hit a batter and struck out one.

Senior left-hander Tom Cote (Swanzey, N.H./Univ. of Massachusetts) started on the mound and took the loss (1-2) for Franklin Pierce. Over 5.2 innings, he gave up three runs on six hits, walked two, hit a batter and struck out seven.

The Ravens (7-9, 0-0 Norteast-10) return to the field on Tuesday, March 24, when they travel to Southern New Hampshire to open Northeast-10 Conference play. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Penmen Field in Manchester, N.H. Franklin Pierce’s first home game is scheduled for Thursday, March 26 against Southern New Hampshire at 3 p.m. Molloy (8-8, 0-0 East Coast) returns to action on March 23 at Queens.