Senior tosses eight innings for fourth win of season

Box Score

WALTHAM, Mass. (April 7, 2009) – Senior left-hander Tom Cote (Swanzey, N.H./Univ. of Massachusetts) allowed just two runs on four hits over eight innings on Tuesday afternoon to lead the Franklin Pierce University baseball team to a 5-2 victory at Bentley in Northeast-10 Conference play at DeFelice Field. Senior right-hander Brett Fistes (South Deerfield, Mass./Greenfield) struck out nine over seven innings for Bentley in defeat.

Franklin Pierce opened the scoring with a run in the top of the third inning. Freshman catcher Mike Dowd (East Bridgewater, Mass./Cardinal Spellman) led off with a double into the gap in left-center field and scored three batters later on an RBI single through the right side by senior left fielder Ted Lerud (Hampden, Mass./Minnechaug Regional).

Bentley then took a 2-1 lead with two runs in the bottom half of the third. With one out, freshman left fielder Mark Lane (Tyngsboro, Mass./Tyngsboro) singled to right field and came all the way around to score on a triple into the left-center field gap by sophomore third baseman Ross Curley (Lexington, Mass./Lexington). Curley would score himself when junior center fielder Brett Damato (Commack, N.Y./Commack) followed with an RBI groundout to third base.

Franklin Pierce tied the game with a run in the top of the fifth inning. Sophomore designated hitter Derek Ingui (Sterling, Mass./Wachusett Regional) led off and reached on an error by the shortstop. He then stole second and scored on an RBI single to left by Dowd.

The Ravens took a 3-2 lead and never looked back with a run in the top of the sixth inning. Fifth-year center fielder Cliff Hicks (Merrimack, N.H./Merrimack HS) led off with a bunt single, stole second and moved to third when junior second baseman Cody Kauffman (Blue Bell, Pa./Univ. of Massachusetts) reached on an error. Hicks then scored when sophomore shortstop Jose Macias (Bronx, N.Y./Monroe College) followed with an RBI single to center field.

Franklin Pierce tacked on a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning to widen the gap and create the 5-2 final. With one out, junior right fielder Kevin Rivers (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Eastern) drove a double to right field and then scored when Lerud followed with a single down the left-field line. Lerud then stole second and scored on a double by freshman third baseman Ben Benigno (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull).

Cote started on the mound and picked up the win (4-2) for Franklin Pierce. Over eight innings, he surrendered two runs on four hits, walked three, threw a wild pitch and struck out four. Sophomore right-hander Rob Nicholas (Northboro, Mass./Algonquin Regional) allowed one hit and walked one in a scoreless ninth inning to tally his third save of the season.

Fistes threw the first seven innings and took the loss (2-4) for Bentley. He was touched up for five runs (three earned) on 12 hits, did not issue a walk and struck out nine.

The Ravens (15-12, 6-3 Northeast-10) return to the field on Wednesday, April 8, when they return home to host Southern Connecticut State in a Northeast-10 Conference contest. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field in Rindge, N.H. Bentley (17-12, 8-4 Northeast-10) returns to action on April 8 at Stonehill.