Seven-Spot in First Starts No. 1/3 Baseball On Way to 13-1 Win at Merrimack

Walsh, O'Herron notch three hits each

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (April 18, 2015) – Senior catcher Matt Walsh (Plymouth, Mass.) went 3-for-5, scored three runs and drove in three more on Saturday afternoon, to lead the way for the No. 1/3 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University baseball team in a 13-1 win over Merrimack in Northeast-10 Conference, Northeast Division play at Warrior Baseball Diamond. Senior right-hander Brendan O'Rourke (Shrewsbury, Mass.) threw seven shutout innings of three-hit ball on the hill for Franklin Pierce.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 32-2 (12-1 Northeast-10, 8-1 Northeast Division) and has won 13 in a row for the second time this year, while Merrimack falls to 13-12 (7-7 Northeast-10, 5-7 Northeast Division). The two teams will meet twice more on Sunday at Warrior Baseball Diamond, in a doubleheader starting at noon, to wrap up the three-game weekend series.

Franklin Pierce opened the game with a bang on Saturday afternoon, as it sent 11 men to the plate and scored seven runs in the top of the first inning, staking O'Rourke to a large lead before he ever took the mound. Franklin Pierce led 4-0 before the Warriors recorded their first out, as the first five batters of the game reached base, and all five eventually scored as well.

Junior center fielder Maxx Sheehan (San Jose, Calif.) walked leading off and moved to second as sophomore shortstop Jay Jabs (Schwenksville, Pa.) was hit by a pitch, before a bunt single by senior right fielder John Razzino (Cranston, R.I.) loaded the bases. Walsh followed with his biggest blow of the day, a two-run double, and then Razzino scored while junior first baseman Matt O'Herron (Springfield, Mass.) reached on an error. The first out of the game brought home the fourth run of the inning, as Walsh scored on a sacrifice fly to center by sophomore designated hitter Chris LaVorgna (North Haven, Conn.).

Later in the top of the first, junior left fielder Kurtis White (Nahant, Mass.) drove in a run with a sacrifice bunt, freshman third baseman John Friday (Southborough, Mass.) slugged an RBI double and Sheehan knocked an RBI single.

The Ravens added two in the fourth, one in the fifth, one in the sixth and two in the seventh to push the lead as high as 13-0. In the fourth, back-to-back doubles by Sheehan and Jabs scored the first run, before Jabs scored on an RBI single by Walsh. In the fifth, Friday singled and eventually scored on an RBI groundout by Jabs. In the sixth, Walsh singled and later scored on an RBI infield single by White. In the seventh, Jabs walked and ultimately scored while Walsh reached on an error, and Walsh later scored on an RBI single by O'Herron.

Merrimack finally got on the board with a run in the bottom of the eighth to create the 13-0 final. Sophomore left fielder Tyler Lyne led off with a walk, moved to second on a groundout and then scored on an RBI double down the left-field line by sophomore second baseman Cam DiSarcina.

O'Rourke fired 97 pitches (61 strikes) on his way to seven shutout innings of work. He allowed just three hits, walked three and struck out nine to pick up the win (8-0).

Meanwhile, freshman left-hander PJ Browne used 86 pitches (54 strikes) to get through five innings of work. He was tagged for 10 runs (six earned) on 11 hits, walked one, hit a batter and struck out two while taking the loss (4-1).

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).