LaVorgna scores pair of runs

SAINT LEO, Fla. (March 15, 2014) – Freshman third baseman Jay Jabs (Schwenksville, Pa.) clubbed a two-run home run in the top of the eighth inning on Saturday afternoon to break a 2-2 tie and send the No. 9/23 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University baseball team on its way to a 5-2 victory over Saint Leo in non-conference play at Thomas B. Southard Stadium. Senior left fielder Chris Newcomb hit a two-run homer in defeat for Saint Leo.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 11-5 (0-0 Northeast-10), while Saint Leo falls to 13-8 (0-3 Sunshine State). The two teams have split the first two games of a three-game weekend series and will meet for the rubber match at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Southard Stadium.

The Ravens opened the scoring with an unearned run in the top of the third inning. Freshman left fielder Chris LaVorgna (North Haven, Conn.) led off the inning and reached on a throwing error by Saint Leo freshman third baseman Dylan Harris. Two batters later, LaVorgna went first-to-third on a single to left field by sophomore shortstop Justin Brock (Latham, N.Y.). Two batters after the Brock single, with runners at the corners and two away, Franklin Pierce put on the first-and-third double steal play, with Brock stealing second and LaVorgna stealing home on the throw to plate the game's first run.

Saint Leo scored twice in the bottom of the fifth to take a 2-1 lead. Junior catcher Dale Irving worked a one-out walk and scored as Newcomb staked the Lions to the lead with a two-run home run to left field, his first of the season.

Franklin Pierce tied the game at 2-2 with a run in the top of the seventh. Junior catcher Matt Walsh (Plymouth, Mass.) led off and cracked a double the other way down the right-field line. He moved to third two batters later on a single back up the middle by senior designated hitter Marty Dunlap (Dorchester, Mass.) and scored when LaVorgna lifted a sacrifice fly to left field.

The Ravens picked up two more runs in the top of the eighth to jump to a 4-2 lead. With one out, junior right fielder John Razzino (Cranston, R.I.) singled back up the middle and scored when Jabs followed with a two-run home run, his team-leading third of the campaign.

An unearned insurance run in the top of the ninth inning pushed the Franklin Pierce lead to 5-2. With one out, LaVorgna reached on an error by Saint Leo freshman second baseman Alex Mata and then stole second. LaVorgna would score from second on an RBI single back through the middle by freshman second baseman Kyle Hood (Arlington, Mass.).

Sophomore right-hander Paul Covelle (Medford, Mass.) toed the rubber on Saturday afternoon for Franklin Pierce. Over seven innings of work, he allowed two runs on five hits, walked one and struck out three on the way to the win (1-1). Junior right-hander Doug Willey (Shelburne, N.H.) retired three straight after a lead-off double in the ninth to pick up his fourth save of the season.

Junior right-hander Liam O'Sullivan got the start on the mound for Saint Leo. He allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits over 6.2 innings, did not issue a walk and struck out three, but left without factoring in the decision. Senior left-hander Brandon Terry tossed the final 2.1 innings for the Lions. He allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits, also did not walk a batter and struck out two while taking the loss (2-3).

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). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce baseball apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).