WORCESTER, Mass. (April 24, 2016) – Four relievers combined to throw 8.1 innings of shutout, four-hit ball on Sunday afternoon, as the No. 2/8 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University baseball team completed a three-game weekend sweep of Assumption with a 4-1 win at Rocheleau Field in Northeast-10 Conference, Northeast Division play. Junior third baseman Jay Jabs (Schwenksville, Pa.) provided the game's key offensive blow, with a two-run, first-inning single.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 35-4 (16-2 Northeast-10, 11-1 Northeast Division) and has won seven in a row, while Assumption falls to 14-22 (9-13 Northeast-10, 5-9 Northeast Division).

Franklin Pierce jumped out front early on Sunday afternoon with three runs in the top of the first inning. Senior center fielder Maxx Sheehan (San Jose, Calif.) led off the game with a bunt single and moved to second on a walk to senior shortstop Justin Brock (Latham, N.Y.). After a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third, Jabs pulled a single through the right side of the infield to drive home the game's first two runs. Jabs moved to second on a bunt single by junior designated hitter Chris LaVorgna (North Haven, Conn.), went to third on a flyout and ultimately scored when sophomore catcher Christopher Stanford (Quebec City, Quebec) bounced into an RBI fielder's choice.

Assumption picked up its only run in the bottom of the first inning to cut the gap to 3-1. With one out, freshman shortstop Hunter Tralli drove a triple into the gap in left-center and scored two batters later when sophomore designated hitter Andrew Jaehnig bounced into an RBI fielder's choice.

The Franklin Pierce starter, freshman right-hander Zach Hart (Wallingford, Conn.) would not escape the first inning after allowing the run, as senior right-hander Tanner Bird (Adams, Mass.) was called on to get the inning's final out. Bird would go on to allow three hits over 3.2 shutout innings, while walking one and hitting a batter, to pick up his sixth win of the season out of the bullpen (6-0). Sophomore left-hander Adam Goss (Waterford, Conn.) went one-third of an inning, freshman right-hander Tanner Putnam (New Boston, N.H.) threw the next 2.1 innings and junior right-hander Dylan Dennis (Wakefield, Mass.) threw the final two innings as the bullpen tossed 8.1 scoreless innings. Dennis picked up his third save of the season for finishing things off.

Franklin Pierce tacked on the day's only remaining run, in the top of the ninth inning, to create the 4-1 final. Sophomore first baseman John Friday (Southborough, Mass.) singled to center with one out and later came all the way around to score when Sheehan reached on a fly ball dropped by Assumption sophomore left fielder Nick Massarelli.

Junior right-hander Tom Horstkotte (3-4) threw the first seven innings on the mound for Assumption. He allowed three runs on five hits, walked three, threw two wild pitches and struck out three.

The Ravens return to the field on Wednesday, April 27, when they hit the road for the final regular-season showdown with intrastate rival Southern New Hampshire, in a Northeast-10 Conference, Northeast Division contest. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Penmen Field in Manchester, N.H.

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).