Hennigan 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (February 26, 2012) – Sophomore right-hander Ryan Leach (Farmingdale, Maine) fired seven innings of three-hit ball and struck out five on Sunday afternoon to lead the No. 16/16 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University baseball team to a 2-0 win over West Virginia Wesleyan in non-conference play at The Ripken Experience. The contest wrapped up the team's five-game, season-opening trip to Myrtle Beach.

With the victory, Franklin Pierce improves to 4-1 (0-0 Northeast-10), while West Virginia Wesleyan falls to 0-4 (0-0 West Virginia). The game marked the first-ever meeting between the two schools on the baseball diamond.

Pitching was the story of the day for the Ravens. Leach made his first start of the year, and allowed just the three hits and three walks while striking out five over seven shutout innings to pick up the win (1-0). Sophomore right-hander Rob Blanc (Sandy Hook, Conn.) struck out two in a perfect eighth, while senior right-hander Rob Nicholas (Southborough, Mass.) struck out one in a perfect ninth to finish off the three-hitter and earn his second save of the season.

Franklin Pierce opened the scoring in the top of the first inning. After loading the bases with nobody out, senior second baseman Dan Hennigan (Downingtown, Pa.) came in to score as sophomore first baseman Zach Mathieu (Derry, N.H.) grounded into a double play.

The Ravens added an insurance run in the top of the sixth to create the 2-0 final. With one out, graduate student center fielder James Roche (Arlington, Mass.) and Mathieu hit back-to-back singles before junior right fielder Nick LaCroix (Grafton, Mass.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Junior third baseman Anthony Peguero (Hyde Park, Mass.) picked up the RBI with a sacrifice fly.

Hennigan finished 2-for-3 with a walk in addition to his run scored. Junior shortstop Dan Kemp (Sturbridge, Mass.) and freshman catcher Matt Walsh (Plymouth, Mass.) also had multiple hits, as each went 2-for-4.

Full stats from the game are unavailable at this time.

The Ravens return to the field on Saturday, March 3, when they travel to Dowling for a non-conference doubleheader as part of a three-game weekend series. First pitch is scheduled for noon at Golden Lions Field in Brookhaven, N.Y.

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).