SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (April 18, 2018) – A run in the top of the first inning set the tone early for the Franklin Pierce University baseball team on Wednesday afternoon at Bedard Field. The Ravens then added single runs in the fifth, seventh and eighth innings on the way to a 4-1 road win over American International in non-conference play. A trio of Franklin Pierce pitchers held the Yellow Jackets to one run on seven hits in the victory.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 21-10-1, while American International falls to 14-20.

Franklin Pierce jumped out front early on Wednesday, with a run in the top of the first inning. Leading off the game, sophomore third baseman Joe Napolitano (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) took the sixth pitch of the game back up the middle for a single. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and then came around to score on a two-out RBI double into the gap in right-center by graduate student first baseman Mike Coggeshall (Shrewsbury, Mass.), who would drive in two of the team's four runs on the afternoon.

AIC evened things up with a run in the home half of the third inning. With one out, junior second baseman Trent Dillon doubled over the head of the right fielder, moved to third on a balk and scored on an RBI single back through the middle by junior shortstop Brendan Carter.

The Ravens took the lead for good with an unearned run in the top of the fifth. Sophomore second baseman J.R. DiSarcina (Barnstable, Mass.) took a five-pitch walk leading off, and then moved to second on a passed ball. After advancing to third on a groundout, DiSarcina scored on another two-out RBI hit, this one a single back up the middle by junior left fielder Brad Roberto (San Diego, Calif.).

Franklin Pierce picked up insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings to create the 4-1 final. In the seventh, Roberto started things with a two-out double to right, and then scored on an RBI single the other way and through the left side by Coggeshall, who foiled AIC's infield shift by hitting the ball through the vacated shortstop position.

In the eighth, senior right fielder Zack Tower (Auburn, Mass.) reached on a one-out, infield single, moved to second on a groundout and scored on a two-out RBI single into left-center by sophomore shortstop James Boria (Massapequa, N.Y.). All four of Franklin Pierce's RBI hits on the day came with two outs.

After missing his last start, junior left-hander Evan Glew (North Andover, Mass.) took the ball and threw the first three innings on Wednesday for Franklin Pierce. He allowed one run on four hits, did not issue a walk, balked once and did not record a strikeout. Senior right-hander Ryan Covelle (Medford, Mass.) took over and threw scoreless, hitless ball over the next four innings to pick up the win (4-2) out of the bullpen. He walked one, hit a batter and struck out four. Senior right-hander John Amendola (Wallingford, Conn.) threw two scoreless with three hits and four strikeouts to nail down his first save of the season.

Freshman left-hander Joe Kemlage started for AIC and also did not factor in the decision after throwing the first three innings. He allowed one run on two hits, did not issue a walk and struck out four. Freshman right-hander Angel Mendez (0-1) would take over for the next 3.2 innings and suffer the loss. He surrendered two runs (one earned) on three hits, walked three and struck out two.

The Ravens return to the field on Saturday, April 21, when they travel to Stonehill for a doubleheader to kick off a three-game, Northeast-10 Conference, Northeast Division series. First pitch is set for noon 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).