Freshman clubs three-run home run in fifth inning

Box Score

RINDGE, N.H. (April 15, 2010) – Freshman center fielder Nick LaCroix (Grafton, Mass.) hit a three-run home run to cap a six-run fifth inning on Thursday night as the No. 29 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University baseball team broke a 1-1 tie and eventually went on to post a 9-4 victory over Concordia in non-conference action at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field. Freshman right-hander Joe Flynn (Plymouth, Mass.) struck out seven over 7.2 innings to pick up the win for Franklin Pierce.

With the victory, Franklin Pierce improves to 24-10 (11-4 Northeast-10), while Concordia falls to 21-16 (8-7 Central Atlantic) with the loss.

Concordia opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning. With two outs, senior shortstop Donnie Roth reached on an infield single deep in the hole at second. Roth then stole second and scored on an RBI single back through the middle by junior designated hitter T.J. Walsh.

Franklin Pierce evened things up at 1-1 with a run in the bottom of the second. Junior left fielder Mike Munoz (Bronx, N.Y.) led off and lifted a double just beyond the reach of the left fielder. Later in the inning, Munoz stole third and scored on an infield single on the left side by sophomore designated hitter Tim Quinn (Paxton, Mass.).

After a pair of scoreless innings, the Ravens broke the game open with six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 7-1 lead. Freshman center fielder Nick LaCroix (Grafton, Mass.) delivered the keynote address in the inning with a three-run home run to left field. It was his fifth home run of the season, which tied him for the team lead. Also in the inning, junior third baseman Derek Ingui (Sterling, Mass.) and senior right fielder Phil Hendricks (Pittsfield, Maine) drove in a run each with RBI singles, while senior second baseman Cody Kauffman (Blue Bell, Pa.) was hit by a pitch and later scored on a balk.

Franklin Pierce extended the lead to 8-1 with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Graduate student first baseman Mike Augustine (Kingston, N.Y.) led off the inning and went the other way with a pitch on the outside corner and drove a home run over the left-field fence. It was his first home run as a Raven after transferring in from Boston College.

Concordia pulled to within four at 8-4 with three runs in the top of the eighth inning. With one out, freshman right fielder Luis Gonzalez knocked a single into right field and moved to second on an infield single by sophomore catcher Christopher Motta. Senior center fielder Anthony Carnacchio followed with a double into left-center to drive home Gonzalez and moved Motta around to third, where he would score from on a sacrifice fly to right by junior left fielder Michael Sciacchitano. Roth followed and lined a single over the first baseman's head to bring home Carnacchio with the third run of the inning.

Franklin Pierce picked up a run of its own in the home half of the first to create the 9-4 final. Augustine led off, walked and stole second. He then moved to third on a single through the right side by Kauffman and scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Dowd.

Flynn started on the mound and picked up the win (4-2) for Franklin Pierce. Over 7.2 innings of work, he allowed four runs on nine hits, did not issue a walk and struck out seven.

Senior right-hander Tommy Paradise started on the hill and took the loss (1-1) for Concordia. In five innings on the rubber, he was touched up for seven runs (six earned) on eight hits, did not issue a walk, hit a batter, threw a wild pitch, balked once and struck out two.

The Ravens return to the field on Friday, April 16, when they remain home to host Concordia in another non-conference contest. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Pappas Field.