WORCESTER, Mass. (April 3, 2022) -- Things continued in the wrong direction in the opening game of Sunday's doubleheader for the Franklin Pierce University baseball team, as four errors led to four unearned runs in a 6-1 loss to Assumption at Roucheleau Field. The Ravens avoided a complete disaster of a weekend in the second half of the Northeast-10 Conference twinbill, as sophomore Ian Battipaglia (Cheshire, Conn.) clubbed a pair of home runs, including an eighth-inning grand slam, to key a 9-2 victory.

With the split, Franklin Pierce now stands at 14-8 (5-3 NE10), while Assumption moves to 13-9 (6-2 NE10).

Game 1: Assumption 6, Franklin Pierce 1

In the seven-inning opener of the doubleheader, the Ravens could not get out of their own way. Franklin Pierce committed four errors, which produced a quartet of unearned runs, as Assumption capitalized on the miscues.

The Greyhounds scored twice each in the third and fourth innings to open up a 4-0 lead. Franklin Pierce clawed back a run in the top of the fifth, as junior Joel Lara (Boston, Mass.) walked with one out, stole second, moved to third on a single to right by sophomore Randy Flores (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and scored on an RBI single through the left side of the infield by Battipaglia.

The Ravens immediately gave it back and then some though, as a sloppy bottom of the fifth led to a pair of insurance runs and Assumption put the game out of reach. With two outs and runners at second and third, a wild pitch produced the first run of the frame. Sophomore right-hander James Draughn (Framingham, Mass.) then got a ground ball which should have ended the inning, but Battipaglia's second costly error of the game at shortstop allowed another run to score.

Sophomore right-hander Chaz Powell (Stamford, Conn.) threw 70 pitches (43 strikes) over the first four innings and was done few favors by his defense in the loss (2-2), though he also walked three and hit a batter as well for his own part. Powell was charged with four runs (one earned) on four hits and struck out three.

Junior left-hander Shea Ryan (3-1) went six innings on 85 pitches (52 strikes) for Assumption. He allowed one run on five hits, walked three and struck out three.

Game 2: Franklin Pierce 9, Assumption 2

Staring a potential four-game sweep in the face, the Ravens finally got things together on both sides of the ball at the same time for the first time all weekend, and took care of business in the second half of the doubleheader. This time, it was Assumption which came apart at the seams, as the Greyhounds managed to commit seven errors, though they led to only a pair of unearned runs.

Hanging onto a 5-2 lead late, the Ravens used four in the top of the eighth to ensure they would leave Worcester with one win. A pair of errors and then an infield single by Flores loaded the bases with one out for Battipaglia, who had already socked his first home run of the season with a three-run shot back in the fifth. The shortstop made it a seven-RBI game, as he went the other way again, for a grand slam to right field to break the game open.

The late runs ensured a win (3-1) for junior right-hander Danny Gracia (Wilmington, Mass.), who threw 77 pitches (46 strikes) over the first six-plus innings. He allowed two runs on seven hits, walked one, hit a batter and struck out five.

Graduate student right-hander James McNamara (1-3) used 80 pitches (51 strikes) to throw six innings on the other side. He surrendered four runs on six hits, walked one, hit another and struck out five.

The Ravens have a bye weekend next week, but will hook up with fellow NE10 member Saint Rose -- which has the Southwest Division's bye -- for a quartet of non-conference games. The two teams will meet for a doubleheader at Franklin Pierce on Saturday and then travel to Saint Rose for a twinbill on Sunday.