RINDGE, N.H. (April 3, 2021) -- The Franklin Pierce University baseball team did not need long to take care of business in a Saturday afternoon doubleheader at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field. With a combined game time of just 3:43 for the twinbill, the Ravens finished off a four-game weekend sweep of Assumption in Northeast-10 Conference play. In a 101-minute, seven-inning first game, graduate student right-hander Derek Duffy (Farmington, Conn.) piled up 10 strikeouts and senior Jonel Ozuna (New York, N.Y.) drove in four runs in a 6-4 victory. The second game was only marginally longer, at 122 minutes for nine innings, as junior Jake Miller (Waltham, Mass.) went 4-for-4 and drove in two to lead the way in a 5-2 win.

With the wins, Franklin Pierce has won five in a row and improves to 9-2 (6-2 NE10), while Assumption falls to 2-4 (2-4 NE10).

Game 1: Franklin Pierce 6, Assumption 4

In the first game, the Ravens opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Graduate student Tyler Patane (Lake Grove, N.Y.) reached with a two-out infield single and raced all the way around to score on a double into the gap in left-center by Ozuna, who drove in 11 runs over the four-game series with the Greyhounds.

The two teams each scored twice in the third inning. In the top half for Assumption, junior Connor Wironen reached on a one-out infield single and graduate student Jared Brescia followed with a two-run home run an estimated 335 feet down the left-field line, his first of the season. In the bottom half, the Ravens got a two-run dinger of their own, as junior Joel Lara (Boston, Mass.) struck out, but reached on a wild pitch, and Flores followed with a two-run shot to right-center field. Flores' first home run of the season was estimated at 375 feet.

Assumption briefly went out front with a run in the top of the fifth. Freshman Jack Barry led off and clubbed his first home run of the season an estimated 380 feet to the power alley in left-center.

The lead was short-lived, as Franklin Pierce surged out front for good in the home half of the inning. Junior Ryan Lavelle (East Longmeadow, Mass.) walked, Flores reached on an infield single and Patane walked to load the bases with two outs, which brought Ozuna to the plate with the sacks full for the second time in as many days. It would not be a grand slam this time, but Ozuna went the other way and drove a game-changing, three-run double into the gap in left-center to give the Ravens the lead and knock junior right-hander Patrick Harrington out of the game. Assumption would get one back in the seventh to create the 6-4 final.

Duffy (1-0) threw 74 pitches (52 strikes) over five innings on the mound for the Ravens. He allowed three runs on seven hits, did not issue a walk and struck out 10, marking his fourth career double-digit strikeout performance. Senior left-hander Patrick Hannon (Willington, Conn.) allowed one run on one hit, walked one and struck out one in the seventh to notch his first save of the season.

Harrington (0-1) made 91 pitches (52 strikes), but could not get out of the fifth, as he departed after 4.2 innings. He was touched for six runs on six hits, walked two and struck out six.

Game 2: Franklin Pierce 5, Assumption 2

Assumption jumped out front in the second game with single runs in the first and second before graduate student left-hander Shawn Babineau (Ashland, Mass.) could settle in. In the first, Wironen singled through the right side leading off and eventually scored on a wild pitch, as Babineau battled early control problems. In the second, senior Dillon Zona drove a two-out double to left-center and scored when Barry followed with an RBI single into left-center.

Franklin Pierce got all it would need in the next frame, with a three-run bottom of the third. Flores singled to left with one out and went to second on an infield single by senior Dylan Jones (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.). Flores scored when Patane yanked an RBI single through the right side of the infield. Jones and Patane would move up on a two-out balk, and Miller made the mistake hurt, as he laced a two-run single into left field to give the Ravens the lead.

The crimson and grey added a run in the fifth, as Jones scored from second on a fielder's choice, and another in the seventh, when Patane walked and later scored on a sacrifice fly by graduate student James Boria (Massapequa, N.Y.), to create the 5-2 final.

Babineau (1-0) sputtered early, but then settled in and used 109 pitches (73 strikes) to get through seven innings on the hill. He allowed two runs on five hits, walked one and struck out five. Senior right-hander Jack Wallace (Winthrop, Mass.) threw the final two innings, did not allow a run on two hits and struck out three to pick up his first save of the season.

On the other side of the ledger, senior right-hander James McNamara (0-1) tossed 82 pitches (52 strikes) over five innings of work for Assumption. He surrendered four runs on nine hits and struck out five.

The Ravens are scheduled to return to action on Wednesday, April 7, for a midweek affair at home against Saint Anselm at 6 p.m.