Three Ravens score three runs each

RINDGE, N.H. (April 1, 2015) – A 12-hit attack to capitalize on six opposition errors canceled out seven walks by the pitching staff on Wednesday afternoon, as the No. 5/5 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University baseball team slugged its way to a 17-7 win over American International in non-conference play at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field. Sophomore third baseman Jay Jabs (Schwenksville, Pa.), sophomore second baseman Kyle Hood (Arlington, Mass.) and junior shortstop Justin Brock (Latham, N.Y.) each scored three runs in the win for Franklin Pierce, while freshman designated hitter Chris Starcun hit a pair of home runs in defeat for AIC.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 23-2 (5-1 Northeast-10, 3-1 Northeast Division) and has now won four in a row, while American International falls to 3-9 (0-2 Northeast-10, 0-1 Southwest Division).

AIC opened the scoring on Wednesday with a pair of runs on two solo home runs in the top of the first inning. With a strong wind blowing out to right field all day, graduate student center fielder Dave Clark took the third pitch of the game -- on a 1-1 count -- the other way and got it up into the wind. The ball carried over the snow bank behind the fence in straightaway right for a home run -- Clark's first of the season -- of an estimated 350 feet to the opposite field. Three batters later, Starcun got a first-pitch fastball over the heart of the plate and drilled a towering shot to the power alley in right-center for another solo shot -- his first of the season as well -- of an estimated 410 feet. Starcun's home run cleared the snow bank behind the fence as well and wound up on the adjacent Sodexo Field.

Franklin Pierce stormed to the lead for good with four runs in the bottom of the second inning. Senior catcher Matt Walsh (Plymouth, Mass.) led off and started things by turning on an 0-2 pitch for a double down the left-field line. Walsh moved to third on a flyout to right field by junior first baseman Matt O'Herron (Springfield, Mass.) and scored on an RBI single through the pitcher's legs and back up the middle by sophomore designated hitter Chris LaVorgna (North Haven, Conn.). LaVorgna then stole second, but wound up at third on the play, as the throw from the catcher wound up in center field.

The throwing error proved irrelevant however, as things took a turn for the weird on the following play. Hood went the other way with a 1-1 pitch and hit a fly ball down the right-field line. The ball appeared to drop inside the line, out of the reach of AIC junior right fielder Aiden Farrell and bounded away into the right-field corner, though home plate umpire Brian Troupe immediately held up his hands to signal foul ball. The call was somewhat less than vocal however, as Farrell scampered off after the ball, LaVorgna trotted towards the plate and Hood motored his way around the bases. Only after Hood was standing at third and the ball had been returned to the infield did anybody become aware it had been called a foul ball. After argument from Franklin Pierce head coach Jayson King -- which was quite vocal -- Troupe conferred with base umpire Rick Force, and the duo agreed to overturn the call, placing Hood on third base with an RBI triple. After a counter-argument by AIC head coach Nick Callini and a pitching change, the game resumed with a first-pitch sacrifice fly to left field by junior left fielder Kurtis White (Nahant, Mass.), to score Hood. Brock followed and capped the inning's scoring with his third home run of the season, a solo shot just over the fence in left field, of an estimated 365 feet.

The Ravens picked up two unearned runs in the bottom of the third to push the lead to 6-2. Jabs led off with a single to left-center and moved around to third as senior right fielder John Razzino (Cranston, R.I.) reached on a throwing error by AIC junior shortstop Eddie Ritch. Razzino then took off for second in the first and third situation and Jabs stole home on the throw down to second for the successful double steal. Razzino stole third as well and later scored on an infield single by O'Herron.

Franklin Pierce appeared to break the game open with four more runs in the bottom of the fourth to stretch the lead to 10-2. Hood was hit by a pitch leading off, stole second on a failed pickoff attempt and moved to third as back-to-back walks to White and Brock loaded the bases with nobody out. Junior center fielder Maxx Sheehan (San Jose, Calif.) picked up an RBI with a ground ball on the left side which saw White forced out at third as Hood scored. After Brock scored on a passed ball, Sheehan came in to score as a third strike in the dirt to Razzino necessitated a throw down to first. Walsh then hit his second double of the day, again down the left-field line, to drive home Jabs.

AIC made things interesting again by plating five runs in the top of the fifth to close the gap to 10-5. Starcun had the big blow of the inning with his second home run of the day, this one a two-run shot of an estimated 330 feet, which narrowly cleared the fence down the right-field line. Junior third baseman Brett Bohl had a two-run single to right in the frame, while senior first baseman Lucas Vallas drove in a run with a sacrifice fly down the left-field line.

Franklin Pierce immediately broke the game open again, this time for good, with a six-spot in the home half of the fifth to run the score to 16-7. Brock had a two-run single back through the middle to drive in his second and third runs of the game, while Razzino also had an RBI single back up the middle.

The Ravens tacked on the game's final run in the bottom of the sixth to create the 17-7 final. Hood doubled down the left-field line and later scored on an RBI single through the right side by White.

Freshman right-hander Anthony Matarazzo (Medford, Mass.) started on the mound for Franklin Pierce, threw 38 pitches (24 strikes), left after 1.2 innings and did not factor in the decision. He allowed two runs on three hits, walked one and struck out four. Senior right-hander Travis Landry (Loudon, N.H.) ultimately picked up the win out of the bullpen (2-0) as the most effective of six Raven relievers. Over 1.1 shutout innings, he allowed one hit, did not issue a walk and struck out one.

Sophomore left-hander Michael Gentile threw 27 pitches (20 strikes) over the first 1.1 innings on the mound for AIC. He was ultimately charged with three runs on three hits, did not issue a walk, struck out one and took the loss (0-2). Gentile left with the game tied and the go-ahead run at third, but freshman right-hander Jason Coscio took over and allowed a sacrifice fly to White, which allowed Franklin Pierce to take the lead for good.

The Ravens return to the field on Thursday, April 2, when they remain home to open their three-game, Northeast-10 Conference, Northeast Division series with Stonehill. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m. at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field.

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).