Jabs drives in two, hits long home run

RINDGE, N.H. (March 30, 2016) – In a highly-anticipated matchup of top-10 nationally ranked programs, the No. 3/5 Franklin Pierce University baseball team utilized early miscues to take an early 4-0 lead on No. 9/10 Southern New Hampshire on Wednesday afternoon. It would be more than enough for senior right-handers Paul Covelle (Medford, Mass.) -- who threw the first seven innings -- and Tanner Bird (Adams, Mass.), who combined to strike out 13 in a five-hitter at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 21-2 (3-0 Northeast-10, 3-0 Northeast Division) and has won eight in a row, while Southern New Hampshire falls to 18-3, 4-1 Northeast-10, 4-1 Northeast Division). The two teams will meet twice more in the season series, which likely holds major seeding repercussions for the NCAA East Regional: on April 13 back at Pappas Field and on April 27 at SNHU.

Covelle appeared to come out of the gate amped up on Wednesday afternoon, as he collected six strikeouts over four shutout innings to start things off, while his team built him a lead. Meanwhile, the Ravens offense opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Senior center fielder Maxx Sheehan (San Jose, Calif.) led off with a line-drive single into center field, but wound up on third base on the play, as SNHU junior center fielder Carson Helms misplayed the ball and let it get behind him. Sheehan would score two batters later when junior third baseman Jay Jabs (Schwenksville, Pa.) took the seventh pitch of his at-bat back up the middle for an RBI single.

Franklin Pierce plated two more runs, including an unearned marker, in the bottom of the third, to push the lead to 3-0. Junior designated hitter Chris LaVorgna (North Haven, Conn.) lashed a single into center on the first pitch of the inning and wound up on second as Helms misplayed another ball. Graduate student left fielder Matt Burns (Parkland, Fla.) was next and reached with an infield single after chopping a ball behind the bag at second base, which glanced off the glove of SNHU junior shortstop Manny Cruz, who was ranging to his left on a tough play. LaVorgna moved to third on the play, putting the Ravens in a first-and-third situation with nobody out.

Looking to double its lead, Franklin Pierce immediately put on the first-and-third play, and SNHU sophomore right-hander Justin Valdespina threw behind Burns at first. Junior first baseman Derek Bauer took the throw and delivered it to Cruz at second base, putting Burns in a rundown while LaVorgna broke for the plate. Cruz quickly turned and put his throw right on the money for junior catcher Cam Oliveira, with LaVorgna still 10 feet up the third-base line. However, Oliveira muffed the throw, which allowed LaVorgna to score the game's second run while Burns pulled into second. Burns would later move to third on a sacrifice bunt and score on a wild pitch.

The Ravens pushed the lead as high as 4-0 with another unearned run in the bottom of the fourth. Senior shortstop Justin Brock (Latham, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch with one out, stole second, moved to third on a flyout deep down the right-field line by Jabs and scored on a passed ball.

SNHU broke through against Covelle for two runs in the top of the fifth to cut the deficit to 4-2. Freshman designated hitter Kevin Alexy drove a 2-2 pitch into the gap in right-center to lead off the inning, while sophomore left fielder Sean Webster worked a six-pitch walk two batters later. Alexy would score on a two-out single back up the middle by Cruz. The single also moved Webster to third, and he would score from there on a wild pitch.

Franklin Pierce got one run back in the bottom of the sixth to make it 5-2 and attempt to stamp out any comeback attempt. With two outs and nobody on, Jabs got a 2-1 pitch to his liking and drove a long home run beyond the flag poles to the left of the 365-foot marker in right-center field. Jabs' fourth home run of the season was estimated at 390 feet.

The Penmen would again close within two runs, at 5-3 this time, on a solo home run of their own in the top of the eighth inning. With two outs and nobody on against Bird, graduate student second baseman Mike Mastroberti hit an equally-long home run, well beyond the 365-foot marker in left-center field. Bird hung an 0-2 slider over the middle of the plate, which Mastroberti launched approximately 390 feet to the walking path beyond the fence for his second home run of the year.

Thanks to an error, SNHU got the tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth, but Bird struck out Alexy and sophomore pinch-hitter Matt Rabbito, before getting Webster to foul out to Brock behind third base to put the Penmen away and earn his second save of the season. Over two innings of work, Bird allowed one run on two hits, did not issue a walk and struck out four.

Covelle (5-0) fired 114 pitches (74 strikes) over seven innings on the bump to start things off for the Ravens. He allowed two runs on three hits, walked two, threw a wild pitch and struck out nine.

For his part, Valdespina (4-2) needed 90 pitches (53 strikes) to get through just four innings on the mound in a losing effort for the Penmen, as command issues and subpar defense behind him conspired to keep his day short. In all, he was charged with four runs (two earned) on five hits, walked three, hit two batters, threw two wild pitches and struck out three.

The Ravens return to the field on Thursday, March 31, when they travel to Stonehill to wrap up a three-game season series with the Skyhawks. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m. at Lou Gorman Field in Easton, Mass.

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).