GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (March 1, 2020) – For the second straight day, the Franklin Pierce University baseball team surrendered runs in bunches on Sunday afternoon at Bonomo Field. This time though, the offense could not do enough to make up the difference, as the Ravens were swept in a non-conference doubleheader by host Adelphi, 10-1 and 6-4, in a pair of seven-inning games. Franklin Pierce was held to just six hits, including only one extra-base hit, in the twinbill.

With the losses, Franklin Pierce falls to 4-4, while Adelphi improves to 2-1.

Game 1: Adelphi 10, Franklin Pierce 1

In the first game of the day, it was three runs in the third inning and four more in the fourth, as Adelphi broke things open in the middle of the contest and never looked back. In the third, catcher Jack Ryan led off with a double to left field and freshman second baseman Anthony Cipri worked a one-out walk. Both runners came around to score when freshman third baseman Matt Alifano followed and socked a two-run double to left. Alifano moved to third on an error and scored on a sacrifice fly to right by senior left fielder Lawrence Cicileo.

In the fourth, a hit batsmen and a walk put two runners on with one out, as Franklin Pierce pitching continued to struggle with giving away free bases. Sophomore right fielder Tim Feliz cashed in both runners with a double to center field to push the lead out to 5-0. After Alifano walked with two outs, senior shortstop Tyler Becker made it 7-0 by knocking a two-run double to right.

Adelphi added one in the fifth and two more in the sixth to balloon the lead as high as 10-0. Franklin Pierce picked up its lone run in the top half of the seventh, as senior first baseman Jonel Ozuna (New York, N.Y.) doubled to right, moved to third on a groundout and eventually scored on a wild pitch.

Senior right-hander Connor Sahlin (Litchfield, N.H.) took the ball for Franklin Pierce in the first game and needed 70 pitches (40 strikes) to get through four innings on the mound. He surrendered seven runs (six earned) on four hits, walked three, hit a batter and struck out three while taking the loss (1-1).

Junior Josh Rovner (1-0) fired six scoreless innings for Adelphi on 76 pitches (49 strikes). He allowed two hits, walked one and struck out four.

Game 2: Adelphi 6, Franklin Pierce 4

The second game of the day was scoreless through three innings, before Adelphi put together three runs in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Cicileo doubled to the gap in left-center, then junior catcher Brandon Warick walked, before sophomore first baseman Kyle Olson plated one run with a double down the left-field line. Freshman second baseman Dillon Kim followed with a two-run single back up the middle.

Franklin Pierce answered with three runs of its own in the top of the fifth. Junior third baseman Josh Tower (Auburn, Mass.) took a leadoff walk and sophomore right fielder Graham Smith (Wilmington, Mass.) followed with a single through the right side. Tower scored as sophomore center fielder Joel Lara (Boston, Mass.) reached on an error. After a walk loaded the bases, senior catcher Dylan Jones (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) worked another walk to force home the second run of the inning. Junior left fielder Charles Lebron (Brooklyn, N.Y.) was then hit by a pitch to force in another run.

Adelphi took the lead for good with a three-spot in the home half of the fifth. With the bases full via a third-strike passed ball, a single, and a hit batsmen, Warick reached on an error by Lebron in left, which allowed all three runs to score. Franklin Pierce picked up a run in the top of the sixth as sophomore shortstop Randy Flores (Brooklyn, N.Y.) picked up an RBI with a fielder's choice, but the tying run was stranded at first as Adelphi held on for the 6-4 win.

Senior left-hander Shawn Babineau (Ashland, Mass.) toed the rubber in the second game and threw 66 pitches (52 strikes) over 4.2 innings. He allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits, walked one and struck out six while suffering the loss (0-2).

Senior Nick Palmerini started for Adelphi and did not allow a hit over four scoreless innings, but did not factor in the decision. He threw 45 pitches (21 strikes), walked three and struck out six. Senior Tom Ambrosino (1-0) tossed the final 2.2 innings to pick up the win in relief. He allowed one run on two hits, walked three and struck out four.

The Ravens return to the field on Friday, March 6, when they open a seven-game trip to Cary, N.C., with a pair of games at USA Baseball National Training Complex. Franklin Pierce will take on Molloy at 11:30 a.m. and West Chester at 3 p.m.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (https://www.fpuravens.com). 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' brand new online store (https://www.shopfpuravens.com).