Ravens score most runs in program history in a wood-bat game

EASTON, Mass. (April 20, 2012) – Sophomore first baseman Zach Mathieu (Derry, N.H.) went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and two walks, scored four runs and drove in five on Friday afternoon to lead the Franklin Pierce University baseball team to a 27-11 victory over Stonehill in Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division play at Lou Gorman Field. Junior third baseman Anthony Peguero (Hyde Park, Mass.) went 3-for-4 with a grand slam and wound up driving in seven runs in the win for Franklin Pierce.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 25-12-1 (12-4-1 Northeast-10, 7-3-1 Northeast Division), while Stonehill falls to 23-14 (11-8 Northeast-10, 6-5 Northeast Division). The game was called after eight innings due to darkness. The two teams will meet in a noon doubleheader on Saturday, also at Lou Gorman Field, to wrap up the three-game weekend series.

The 27 runs are the most ever scored by Franklin Pierce with wood bats, and the most by the program since a 29-9 win at Curry on April 7, 1999.

Franklin Pierce opened the scoring with four runs in the top of the first inning. Senior second baseman Dan Hennigan (Downingtown, Pa.) led off with a single to right field and moved to third on a single into right-center by junior shortstop Dan Kemp (Sturbridge, Mass.). After an error loaded the bases, Mathieu cleared them by clubbing a three-run double the other way into the gap in right-center. Mathieu would move to third on a flyout and score on an RBI single by freshman catcher Matt Walsh (Plymouth, Mass.).

Stonehill cut the lead in half with two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Sophomore second baseman Dan Fratus led off with an infield single and then the bases were loaded on back-to-back singles by sophomore right fielder Billy Karalis and senior designated hitter Steven Popp. Senior center fielder Kyle Shepard worked a walk to drive in the first run, and then sophomore catcher Colin Shepard bounced into an RBI fielder's choice.

The Ravens stretched the lead to 7-2 with three runs in the top of the third inning. Graduate student center fielder James Roche (Arlington, Mass.) started things with a walk, stole second and scored on an RBI double to left by junior right fielder Nick LaCroix (Grafton, Mass.). After a single by Walsh put runners at the corners, LaCroix scored on a squeeze bunt dropped down by Peguero, which also moved Walsh to second. Walsh would score from there on an RBI single to right-center by senior designated hitter Isaac Wenrich (Westlawn, Pa.).

From there, the rout was on, as the Ravens added four in the fourth, three in the fifth, 10 in the sixth and three in the seventh on the way to the 27-11 win. In the fourth, both LaCroix and Peguero lined two-run singles back up the middle. In the fifth, Mathieu hammered a two-run home run to left field, his 10th of the season to tie for the team lead. In the sixth, Peguero mashed his grand slam to right-center, his third home run of the season.

Stonehill picked up three in the fifth, four in the seventh and two in the eighth to create the 27-11 final. In the fifth, Fratus drove in a run with a bases-loaded walk, and Karalis had an RBI single, while Popp hit a sacrifice fly to drive in a run. In the seventh, Fratus in an RBI triple into the gap in left-center and freshman designated hitter Matt Anziano hit an RBI single.

Graduate student left-hander Jack Crawford (Montgomery, N.Y.) started and did not factor in the decision after leaving with an injury in the fifth. Over four-plus innings, he allowed three runs on five hits, walked two and struck out two. Freshman right-hander Doug Willey (Shelburne, N.H.) picked up the win (2-0) out of the bullpen for the Ravens. He pitched two shutout innings, allowed one hit, walked one and struck out two.

Senior left-hander Eric Haughn started and took the loss (4-2) on the hill for Stonehill. Over 2.2 innings, he was touched for seven runs (six earned) on seven hits, walked one and struck out two.

After Saturday, the Ravens return to the field on Tuesday, April 24, when they travel to Assumption for a Northeast-10 Conference contest. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Rocheleau Field in Worcester, Mass. Franklin Pierce next plays at home on Saturday, April 28, in a doubleheader against Merrimack at noon.

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).