RINDGE, N.H. (May 23, 2016) – Sophomore right-hander Jake Walkinshaw fired 4.1 innings of one-run relief to pick up the win and nail down a 4-3 victory for No. 4/8 nationally ranked and second-seeded Southern New Hampshire, which pulled out a win in its fifth straight elimination game at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field. The win, over the No. 1/3 nationally ranked, top seed and host Franklin Pierce University baseball team set up a decisive, winner-take-all game to follow on Monday afternoon at the NCAA Championship East Regional.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 47-7, while SNHU improves to 50-6. In the winner-take-all game, Franklin Pierce will be pursuing its seventh regional title (2013, 2010, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2003), while SNHU is in search of its second (2012).

SNHU -- playing as the home team -- opened the scoring early on Monday, with a run in the bottom of the first inning. On a 1-2 count, graduate student second baseman Mike Mastroberti went after a high fastball and pushed it the other way deep to right field. Tailing towards the foul line the whole way, the ball rode the wind and settled on the other side of the fence for a solo home run of an estimated 340 feet, his fifth of the season.

The Ravens answered immediately, striking for a run in the top of the second. Junior designated hitter Chris LaVorgna (North Haven, Conn.) led off with a sharp, ground-ball single over the mound and back through the middle of the infield. He would move to third on a single through the left side by senior right fielder Max DiTondo (Marshfield, Mass.), go to third on a sacrifice bunt and score on an RBI groundout by senior left fielder Kurtis White (Nahant, Mass.).

Franklin Pierce briefly took a 2-1 lead with a run in the top of the fifth inning. Junior second baseman Kyle Hood (Arlington, Mass.) started things with two outs, as he took a four-pitch walk and then moved to third when senior center fielder Maxx Sheehan (San Jose, Calif.) followed with a double the other way to right-center. Only a sliding stop by SNHU junior center fielder Carson Helms prevented the ball from getting deeper into the gap to score a run. A five-pitch walk to senior shortstop Justin Brock (Latham, N.Y.) then loaded the bases for junior third baseman Jay Jabs (Schwenksville, Pa.), who worked a seven-pitch walk to force home Hood.

The Penmen struck back in the bottom of the fifth with three runs to jump to a 4-2 lead. Junior catcher Cam Oliveira reached on an error leading off, as Jabs made a backhanded pick at third, but then fired a one-hop throw to first, which senior first baseman Matthew O'Herron (Springfield, Mass.) could not dig out. Oliveira took second on a wild pitch and went to third on a sacrifice bunt before junior third baseman Zach Goldstein walked on five pitches. Junior shortstop Manny Cruz then singled through the left side of the infield to drive home Oliveira to tie the game. After Mastroberti was hit by a pitch to load the bases, a wild pitch scored Goldstein to give the Penmen the lead, and then Helms lifted a sacrifice fly to deep center field to drive home Cruz.

The Ravens got back one run in the top of the sixth. With two outs and nobody on, White drove a long, solo home run -- his fourth of the season -- of an estimated 395 feet, just to the left of straightaway center field. Franklin Pierce would load the bases in the ninth, but could not push across the tying run, as the Penmen claimed the 4-3 victory.

Both starting pitchers worked on short rest on Sunday, and both worked into, but could not complete, the fifth inning. For Franklin Pierce, senior right-hander Paul Covelle (Medford, Mass.) tossed 77 pitches (50 strikes) over 4.2 innings. He allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits, walked two, hit a batter, threw two wild pitches and did not record a strikeout while taking the loss (10-2).

For SNHU, senior left-hander Tim Viehoff took the ball on three days' rest did not factor in the decision. He threw 83 pitches (51 strikes) over 4.2 innings, allowed two runs on four hits, walked three and struck out seven. Walkinshaw (5-0) tossed 74 pitches (47 strikes) over the final 4.1 innings, allowed one run on four hits, walked three (one intentionally) and struck out four.

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).