Ferreira knocks two-run home run

Box Score
Assumption/UMass Lowell Recap

RINDGE, N.H. (May 8, 2009) – Senior catcher Jimmy Rivas (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) hit a three-run home run to key a five-run top of the fifth inning on Friday afternoon and lead fifth-seeded New Haven to a 5-4 victory over the top-seeded Franklin Pierce University baseball team on the first day of the Northeast-10 Conference Baseball Championship at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field. Senior catcher Jake Ferreira (Westport, Mass./Bishop Stang) hit a two-run, pinch-hit home run for Franklin Pierce in defeat.

Franklin Pierce opened the scoring with an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning. Sophomore designated hitter Derek Ingui (Sterling, Mass./Wachusett Regional) led off with a walk, then stole second and took third as the throw from the catcher sailed into center field. He would score three batters later when senior left fielder Ted Lerud (Hampden, Mass./Minnechaug Regional) legged out an infield single to third base to drive in a run.

The Ravens extended the lead to 2-0 with a run in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, freshman catcher Mike Dowd (East Bridgewater, Mass./Cardinal Spellman) led off with an infield single behind the bag at second, before walks to junior right fielder Kevin Rivers (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Eastern) and Lerud loaded the bases. Two batters later, freshman third baseman Ben Benigno (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull) worked a walk to drive home Dowd from third.

New Haven jumped to a 5-2 lead with five runs in the top of the fifth inning. The keynote address in the inning was delivered by Rivas, who launched his third home run of the season, a three-run shot well beyond the fence in straightaway left field. Also in the inning, sophomore third baseman Tom Rombilus (Monroe, Conn./Masuk) drove in a run with a single to left-center field and freshman center fielder Ryan Brockett (Guilford, Conn./Guilford) lined an RBI single to center field.

Franklin Pierce would mount a rally, but fell short with two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to create the 5-4 final. With two outs, Dowd lined a single into center field. Ferreira followed as a pinch hitter and hit the first pitch he saw over the right-field fence for a two-run home run, his third of the season.

Junior right-hander Kyle Vazquez (Berlin, Conn./Berlin) started on the mound and took the loss (8-1) for Franklin Pierce. Over 6.2 innings, he allowed five runs on seven hits, walked two, threw a pair of wild pitches, hit a batter and struck out five.

Junior right-hander T.J. Phalen (Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue Medford) picked up the win (5-5) on the hill for New Haven. In 6.1 innings on the rubber, he gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits, walked five, threw a wild pitch and struck out six. Sophomore right-hander Mitch Rossi (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Central) threw the final 2.2 innings, allowed two runs on four hits and struck out three to pick up his seventh save of the season.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce (33-16) will play an elimination game at 11 a.m. on Saturday against Massachusetts Lowell. New Haven (22-19) advances to play at 3 p.m. on Saturday against Assumption.