GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (March 2, 2017) – After a 2-3 season-opening weekend dropped the Ravens out of both major national polls, the Franklin Pierce University baseball team responded with a return to form on Thursday afternoon at Adelphi. Two runs in the second, followed by one in the fifth and a four-spot in the sixth, combined with 10 strikeouts from the pitching staff, led the way to a 7-3, non-conference, road win at Bonomo Field.

With the win, Franklin Pierce levels itself back at .500 at 3-3, while Adelphi falls to 1-1.

Franklin Pierce opened the scoring on Thursday with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the second inning. Junior designated hitter John Friday (Southborough, Mass.) doubled down the left-field line leading off. Junior right fielder Harrison Smoske (Burlington, Mass.) followed and laid down a bunt, which was fielded by Adelphi sophomore right-hander Ed Baram. Baram had a play on Friday at third, but threw the ball away, allowing Friday to come around to score, while Smoske reached at second. Smoske later moved to third on a single through the left side of the infield by senior shortstop Lucas Luopa (Keene, N.H.), and scored when junior center fielder Tim Going (Islip, N.Y.) bounced into a fielder's choice and picked up an RBI in the process.

Adelphi cut the lead in half with a run in the bottom half of the second. With two outs and the bases empty, sophomore left fielder Brandon Morse clubbed a solo home run to left field, his first of the season.

The Ravens pushed the lead to 3-1 with another unearned run in the top of the fifth. Going singled to right leading off, and wound up on second thanks to an error by senior right fielder Eric Hassell. Franklin Pierce would not need another hit to plate Going, as he moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch.

Franklin Pierce proceeded to blow the game open in the top of the sixth, with four more runs to push the lead to 7-1. Smoske led off with a single to right, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and went to third on a single through the left side by freshman third baseman J.R. DiSarcina (Barnstable, Mass.). Luopa followed with an RBI double to center field, which plated Smoske and pushed DiSarcina around to third. Both runs would score as Going immediately made it back-to-back doubles by clubbing another two-bagger to center. Going stole third and would score on an RBI single back up the middle by senior left fielder Chris LaVorgna (North Haven, Conn.).

Adelphi plated a pair of unearned runs in the home half of the sixth to create the 7-3 final. Senior shortstop Michael Stack reached on an error with one out and moved around to third as Morse followed with a double down the left-field line for his second extra-base hit of the day. Stack scored on an RBI groundout by junior catcher Kory Cassara, while Morse came around as freshman third baseman Tyler Becker reached on an errant throw by Luopa at short. After a single proceeded to put runners at the corners, the Franklin Pierce bullpen would retire the final 10 Adelphi batters of the game to nail down the victory.

Graduate student right-hander Tanner Bird (Adams, Mass.) started, logged four-plus innings on the mound and did not factor in the decision for the Ravens. He allowed one run on five hits, walked three and struck out three. Senior right-hander Cody McPartland (Sound Beach, N.Y.) followed and went the next four innings without allowing an earned run. He surrendered two unearned runs on two hits, did not issue a walk, threw a wild pitch and struck out six while picking up the win (2-0) in relief.

On the other side of the ledger, Baram (0-1) suffered the loss despite not allowing an earned run over 4.2 innings on the hill. He gave up three unearned runs on six hits, walked one, hit a batter, threw a wild pitch and struck out two. The Panthers were still in the game when Baram left, but sophomore right-hander Daniel Taggart was then treated rudely as the Ravens broke the game open. Taggart was hit for four runs, all earned, on five hits and struck out one over 1.1 innings.

The Ravens return to the field on Friday, March 3, when they remain at Adelphi to wrap up the quick, two-game series. Weather-permitting, first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Bonomo Field.

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).