***NOTE: Due to on-site scoring/communication difficulties, LIU Post's pitching statistics in the box score are currently incomplete. Tinney threw only one inning and two unknown Pioneer pitchers combined to complete the game after he exited. The box score will be updated when full statistics are made available.

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (February 25, 2018) – The runs came early, often and throughout the proceedings on Saturday morning at the Ripken Experience, as the Franklin Pierce University baseball team wrapped up its five-game weekend trip to South Carolina. The Ravens hammered out five home runs and plated 16 runs -- their third double-digit outing of the trip -- but it would not be enough. LIU Post answered with a score of runs of its own to post a 20-16 win in non-conference, neutral-site play.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce fell to 4-1, and has scored 53 runs through its first five games. With the win, LIU Post improved to 4-5.

Already in front 15-12, LIU Post put the game all but out of reach with four runs in the top of the seventh inning. Junior designated hitter Michael Manzione opened the inning with a solo home run, his first of the season. He was followed by junior third baseman Jimmy Mendyk, who singled, and freshman left fielder Jahsiah Greene, who walked. Both would come around to score on an error. Meanwhile, senior second baseman Ramger Iglesias singled and later scored the final run of the inning on a sacrifice fly by senior shortstop Joe Spitaleri.

The Pioneers pushed the lead out to 20-12 with another unearned run in the top of the eighth. Manzione walked with two outs and eventually scored on a passed ball.

Franklin Pierce would put together four runs in the bottom half of the eighth to pull within four runs, but could not get closer, as the final score held at 20-16. Junior first baseman Jonel Ozuna (New York, N.Y.) led off with his second solo home run of the game, which also represented his first two hits as a Raven. Two batters later, graduate student Mike Coggeshall (Shrewsbury, Mass.) was hit by a pitch while pinch hitting, and his run would come around to score two batters later, when sophomore left fielder John Duffy (Stratford, Conn.) socked a two-run home run, his first career long ball. Junior center fielder Brad Roberto (San Diego, Calif.) then singled and scored on an RBI double by senior right fielder Adam Chase (Bridgewater, Mass.).

Earlier in the game, LIU Post opened the scoring with a run each in the first and second innings. In the first, Spitaleri was hit by a pitch and later scored on an RBI double by senior center fielder Rob Andreoli. In the second, sophomore first baseman Zach Fritz doubled and eventually scored on a single by Mendyk.

Then came the first signs things would get wild, as the two teams traded six-spots. Franklin Pierce jumped to a 6-2 lead in the bottom of the second. Ozuna and senior third baseman Zack Tower (Auburn, Mass.) clubbed back-to-back homers leading off, with the latter drilling his third home run of the five-game trip. Senior second baseman John Friday (Southborough, Mass.) had a two-run single in the inning, while Chase and senior catcher Stephen Octave (New Windsor, N.Y.) had RBIs in the frame as well.

LIU Post jumped right back out front, 8-6, with six of its own in the top of the third. The Pioneers sent 12 men to the plate, got a two-run single from junior catcher Anthony Vaglica, a two-run double from Mendyk and an RBI double from Iglesias in the frame.

Three in the bottom of the third vaulted Franklin Pierce back out front, 9-8. Friday and sophomore shortstop James Boria (Massapequa, N.Y.) had RBI doubles in the inning, while Chase -- who went 4-for-5 on the day -- drove in a run with a single as well.

LIU Post collected two runs in the fourth, four in the fifth, and one more in the sixth to climb to a 15-9 lead. Mendyk -- who went 6-for-6 and drove in six runs -- cashed in both runs in the fourth with a two-run single. Fritz (RBI walk), junior right fielder Dave Brehm (RBI fielder's choice), Manzione (RBI single) and Mendyk (RBI single) each drove in a run apiece in the fifth. In the sixth, Andreoli singled and later scored on an RBI single by Fritz.

Franklin Pierce scored three in the bottom of the sixth to make it 15-12 heading into the aforementioned late innings. Octave socked his second home run of the season -- an inside-the-park job -- leading off, while Boria had an RBI double and Duffy drove in a run with a groundout later in the inning.

Junior right-hander Connor Sahlin (Litchfield, N.H.) started on the mound for Franklin Pierce, but left with an injury after facing one batter in the third and did not factor in the decision. Over two innings of work, he allowed three runs on four hits, walked one, hit a batter and struck out two. Freshman left-hander Alex Cruwys (Billerica, Mass.) eventually took the loss (0-1) out of the bullpen for the Ravens. He faced two batters to open the fourth, walked one and hit the other. Both eventually scored, and the two runs represented the final lead change of the afternoon.

For LIU Post, junior right-hander Brian Kavanagh started on the hill, but did not last long before being removed for ineffectiveness. Over just 1.1 innings, he was tagged for six runs on eight hits and walked one. The fourth-inning runs would ultimately make a winner out of sophomore right-hander Mike Lazos (1-0) out of the bullpen. He threw 2.2 innings, allowed three runs on three hits, walked three and struck out two.

The Ravens return to the field on March 3-4, when they travel to Adelphi for a three-game, non-conference weekend series. The two teams will meet for a doubleheader at noon on Saturday and a single game at noon on Sunday at Bonomo Field in Garden City, N.Y.

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).