Every starter either scores or drives in at least one run

RINDGE, N.H. (April 6, 2015) – Three runs in the first started things on the right foot for the No. 3/5 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University baseball team would need on Monday afternoon, and it ultimately wound up with plenty more in a 16-6 win over Saint Michael's in Northeast-10 Conference, Northeast Division play at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field. Along the way, junior center fielder Maxx Sheehan (San Jose, Calif.) scored three runs, while senior catcher Matt Walsh (Plymouth, Mass.) scored twice and drove in three more.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 27-2 (9-1 Northeast-10, 7-1 Northeast Division) and has now won eight in a row, while Saint Michael's falls to 4-11 (0-4 Northeast-10, 0-4 Northeast Division). The win also completed a three-game season sweep of Saint Michael's by the Ravens.

Franklin Pierce had just one extra-base hit on Monday, but also capitalized on seven walks and three hit batters en route to the 16-run, 13-hit outing. The Ravens started things with three runs in the bottom of the first. Sheehan led off with a walk, before sophomore third baseman Jay Jabs (Schwenksville, Pa.) bounced a ball back to Saint Michael's sophomore right-hander Dylan Lavery. Lavery turned to attempt to start a double play, but his throw sailed into center field and everybody was safe. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third, Walsh cashed them both in with a two-run single back through the middle. Walsh moved to third on singles by junior first baseman Matt O'Herron (Springfield, Mass.) and sophomore designated hitter Chris LaVorgna (North Haven, Conn.), and ultimately scored on a six-pitch, bases-loaded walk to junior left fielder Kurtis White (Nahant, Mass.).

The Ravens plated five more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to push the lead to 8-0. In the inning, sophomore second baseman Kyle Hood (Arlington, Mass.) walked and eventually scored on an infield single by junior shortstop Justin Brock (Latham, N.Y.), White singled and later scored on a wild pitch, Brock ultimately scored on a sacrifice fly by Jabs, Sheehan took another walk and scored on an RBI double by senior right fielder John Razzino (Cranston, R.I.), and Razzino later scored on a sacrifice fly by Walsh.

Seven further runs for Franklin Pierce in the bottom of the fifth turned the game into a laugher, as the lead ballooned to 15-0. O'Herron had the big blow of the inning with a two-run single and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Hood. White, freshman shortstop Garet Griffin (Moosup, Conn.), Sheehan, Jabs, Razzino and Walsh each scored a run in the inning as well. Driving home runs in the inning, in addition to O'Herron, were Jabs with an RBI single, Razzino with an RBI fielder's choice, LaVorgna with an RBI groundout and Hood with a sacrifice fly.

Saint Michael's got on the board with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the eighth. Senior first baseman George Buteau pulled a one-out double down the left-field line and junior designated hitter Matt Feeney was later hit by a pitch with two outs. After a walk to junior right fielder Alex Holt loaded the bases, freshman third baseman Joe Criscuolo hit a groundball to shortstop, which appeared destined to be the final out of the inning. Griffin's throw across the diamond was on target and in plenty of time, but was dropped by freshman first baseman Bobby Schryver (Ansonia, Conn.), which prolonged the inning and allowed Buteau to score. Feeney later scored on a wild pitch.

Franklin Pierce plated its final run of the day in the bottom of the eighth, as senior left fielder Mike Skilton (Bedford, N.H.) was hit by a pitch and later scored on an RBI, pinch-hit single inside the left-field line by freshman Jack Sylvia (Dartmouth, Mass.).

Saint Michael's capitalized on three walks and a pair of hit batters to pick up four runs in the top of the ninth to create the 16-6 final. A pair of pinch hitters in sophomore Steven Auger and freshman Matt Polletta drove in a run each by being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and by drawing a bases-loaded walk, respectively. Holt brought in a run by dumping an RBI single into left-center -- Saint Michael's only run-scoring hit of the day -- while Criscuolo bounced into an RBI fielder's choice.

Junior right-hander Paul Covelle (Medford, Mass.) threw 79 pitches (53 strikes) over six shutout innings on the mound for Franklin Pierce. He scattered seven hits, walked two, hit a batter and struck out seven on the way to the win (3-0).

Meanwhile, Lavery needed 95 pitches (54 strikes) to get through four innings on the hill for Saint Michael's. He was ultimately charged with eight runs (six earned) on seven hits, walked five, threw three wild pitches and struck out two while taking the loss (0-2).

The Ravens return to the field on Wednesday, April 8, when they travel to Southern New Hampshire for a Northeast-10 Conference, Northeast Division contest. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Penmen Field in Manchester, N.H. Franklin Pierce next plays at home on Saturday, April 11, in a cross-division doubleheader against Saint Rose starting 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). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce baseball apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).