Sophomore throws eight shutout innings

Box Score: Game One
Box Score: Game Two

RINDGE, N.H. (April 2, 2011) – Sophomore right-hander Ryan Thompson (Calgary, Alberta) threw eight shutout innings, allowed three hits and struck out 10 in the second game on Saturday afternoon to lead the No. 15/19 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University baseball team to a 3-1 victory over No. 5/13 Southern Connecticut State in Northeast-10 Conference play at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field. In the first game of the day, senior catcher Nick DeProspo hit a solo home run in the top of the 10th inning to help send SCSU to a 4-2, extra-inning victory.

With the split, Franklin Pierce moves to 21-5 (7-1 Northeast-10), while SCSU moves to 22-1 (7-1 Northeast-10).

In the first game, Franklin Pierce opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs, sophomore center fielder Nick LaCroix (Grafton, Mass.) went the other way and hit his first home run of the season, a solo shot to right-center field.

Southern Connecticut State answered immediately with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the fifth to jump to a 2-1 lead. Freshman second baseman T.K. Kiernan led off, hit a ground ball to third and reached on an error by Franklin Pierce freshman third baseman Josh Rouse (Milford, Conn.). Kiernan than moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and over to third on a single to right by senior catcher Nick DeProspo. However, Ravens senior right fielder Mike Munoz (Bronx, N.Y.) misplayed the base hit, which allowed Kiernan to score and DeProspo to move around to third. DeProspo then scored when senior left fielder Kyle Rosadino followed with an RBI groundout to give the Owls the lead.

Franklin Pierce evened things at 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth, when senior catcher Mike Dowd (East Bridgewater, Mass.) launched a lead-off home run to straightaway left field, his second round-tripper of the season.

The game remained tied until the top of the 10th, when DeProspo clubbed a one-out, solo home run to left field, his third of the season, to give SCSU a 3-2 lead. The Owls added an insurance run later in the inning, as senior left fielder Kyle Rosadino singled through the left side, moved to second on a walk, took third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI groundout to first by junior third baseman A.J. Rouleau.

Senior left-hander Brian Maloney (Brockton, Mass.) took to the mound for Franklin Pierce in the first game and did not allow an earned run over nine innings, but did not factor in the decision. He allowed a pair of unearned runs on six hits, walked four and struck out 10. Junior right-hander T.J. Ferguson (Westmoreland, N.H.) took the loss (1-1) out of the bullpen for the Ravens. Over two-thirds of an inning, he allowed two runs on two hits, walked one, threw a wild pitch and struck out one.

Sophomore left-hander Steve Landell took the ball for SCSU and also did not factor in the decision. Over eight innings of work, he allowed two runs on six hits, walked four, hit a batter and struck out seven. Freshman right-hander A.J. Turnier picked up the win (5-0) out of the bullpen for the Owls. He threw one scoreless inning, walked one and struck out one. Senior right-hander Mike Johnston tossed a scoreless bottom of the 10th, allowed two hits and struck out two to notch his fifth save of the season.

In the second game, Franklin Pierce opened the scoring with a run in both the first and second innings and led wire-to-wire. In the bottom of the first, junior second baseman Dan Hennigan (Downingtown, Pa.) led off with a double into left-center field, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI groundout to shortstop by Munoz. In the second, LaCroix was hit by a pitch and stole second before a walk and a strikeout left runners at first and second with two outs. Freshman left fielder Calvin Graves (Boston, Mass.) followed and chopped a ball to third base and legged out an infield single that would've loaded the bases, except Rouleau threw the ball away attempting to get Graves at first, which allowed LaCroix to score an unearned run.

The game remained 2-0 until the Ravens tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, sophomore shortstop Dan Kemp (Sturbridge, Mass.) singled to left field and moved to second on a single to center by Rouse. Kemp moved to third on a ground ball that saw Rouse erased at second and scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-0.

Southern Connecticut State got on the board in the top of the ninth to create the 3-1 final. Rosadino led off with a walk and moved to second two batters later on a single off the glove of the first baseman. Rosadino would score on a two-out, RBI single to left-center by sophomore center fielder Mike Cleary, but the Owls would get no closer, as freshman designated hitter T.J. Shea struck out to end the game.

Thompson sparkled on the mound in the second game to pick up the win (6-0) for the Ravens. Over eight shutout innings, he allowed three hits, walked two, hit two batters and struck out 10. Freshman left-hander Tom MacInnes (Plymouth, Mass.) recorded the final two outs of the ballgame via the strikeout while allowing one hit to pick up his first career save.

Junior left-hander Chris Zbin went the distance and took his first loss of the year (5-1) on the mound for SCSU. Over eight innings, he allowed three runs (two earned) on 10 hits, walked two, hit a batter and struck out six.

The Ravens return to the field on Sunday, April 3, when they remain home to host Assumption in a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for noon at Pappas Field. Assumption will serve as the home team for both games.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics).