MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (2/25/23) – The Franklin Pierce baseball team collected another pair of victories on their season opening trip to The Ripkin Experience in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on Friday afternoon, sweeping a twin-bill matchup with Chestnut Hill on Friday afternoon by 7-5 and 6-1 scores.

With the two wins, Pierce improves to a perfect 3-0 to open the season, while Chestnut Hill falls to 0-2 on their respective campaign.

GAME #1: v. Chestnut Hill College

Things got off to a fast paced start in the first inning for both teams, beginning with the Ravens in the top half. With the bases loaded, junior Hunter Wilichoski (Hamilton, Mass.) plated the game's first run on a sacrifice fly-out to left field, scoring fellow junior Julien Monks (Paris, France) from third to make it a 1-0 game. Two batters later, the Ravens would capitalize on another loaded bases scenario, scoring a pair of runs off a Griffins error and a separate fielder's choice, with the RBI going to seniors Jake Miller (Waltham, Mass.) and Joseph Pesce (Lake Mary, Fla.). Pierce would hold a 3-2 advantage after the completion of the full inning, as Chestnut Hill would respond in the bottom half with a 2 RBI single.

At the top of the third inning, the Ravens would make it a 4-2 game when junior infielder Ian Battipaglia (Cheshire, Conn.) led off the inning with a double and later crossed the plate on the next at bat on a single by Hunter Wilichoski, recording his second RBI of the day. The 4-2 Raven lead would stand-pat until the sixth inning.

Pierce plated a fifth run in the top of the sixth, converting on another Chestnut Hill error when sophomore infielder Connor Smalley (West Sayville, N.Y.) reached second base following a bad throw to first, buying enough time for baserunner Joseph Pesce to make his way home from third. Later down the stretch, Pesce would once again receive a free pass to home from third base on a wild pitch, making it a 6-3 game in the top of the eighth inning. 

After the Griffins made things interesting in the bottom of the eighth with two runs to make it a 6-5 game, the Ravens scored some insurance in the top of the ninth, courtesy of a RBI single by sophomore infielder Jose Savinon (Brooklyn, N.Y.). Despite facing a scoring chance in the bottom half by the Griffins, the Ravens would hang on through the remainder to claim the 7-5 win.

From the mound, three different pitchers saw action in the effort for Franklin Pierce. Junior Chaz Powell (Stamford, Conn.) tossed 6.1 innings to claim the win for the Ravens, striking out eight opponent batters with three runs allowed. Freshman Jackson Walker (Phippsburg, Maine) entered in relief to finish out the seventh inning, surrendering a pair of runs on one hit, before handing the ball to graduate Brian Hadden, who closed things out with two strikeouts.

GAME #2: v. Chestnut Hill College

The second contest of the day between the Ravens and Griffins got off to a slower start as the game opening with three scoreless innings. However, this time around it would be Chestnut Hill that would open the scoring in the top of the fourth inning, scoring a runner from second base on an RBI double.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Franklin Pierce would receive some help with a pair of early walks to place a runner in scoring position, eventually setting up junior Hunter Wilichoski for an RBI single to tie the game up at 1-1. However, with two outs and runners at the corners, the next Pierce batter would take one for the team on a stray pitch, loading the bases for senior Jake Miller, who would then give Pierce a 2-1 lead following a sacrifice flyout to score the runner from third. With a runner still in scoring position, Joseph Pesce would then plate a third run for Pierce with an RBI single, bringing home Wilichoski from second to bring the score to 3-1.

As compared to the fifth inning, the bottom of the sixth was like looking in a mirror for Pierce. Following a pair of introductory walks, junior Ian Battipaglia would cash in both runners with a two RBI triple, stretching the Raven lead to 5-1. To add insult to injury for Chesnut Hill, Battipaglia would need no assistance to make is way home from third, as he would score the sixth run of the game Pierce on a stolen base. The Ravens would then shut down the Griffins in the top of the seventh, earning themselves the 6-1 win to close out day two in Myrtle Beach.

Junior Hunter Reynolds (Marlborough, Mass.) made his season debut on the mound for Franklin Pierce, tossing all seven innings with five strikeouts, two walks and one earned run allowed.