PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (3/12/23) – After winning yesterday's doubleheader in sweeping fashion, the Franklin Pierce baseball team suffered a pair of losses at Jefferson University on Sunday afternoon, falling by scores of 6-0 and 4-3 loss at Alumni Field.

The two losses evened the weekend series with the Rams, and dropped the Ravens to 9-4 overall on the season. Jefferson improves to 6-7 on the season with the wins.

GAME #1:

For the Ravens, things couldn't have gone any worse in the first inning. After going scoreless in the top half, Jefferson unloaded for all six runs scored in the contest after quickly loading the bases through the first three at-bats. From there, a two RBI double to left plus a wild pitch would score three runs for the Rams, only for three more to be scored moments later on a three run home run down the right field line.

Despite the early deficit, the real issue for the Ravens was the lack of offense. Through all seven innings played, Pierce would manage to end with a 7-4 hits edge on the Rams, but would fail to plate any runs in the process, leaving a total of eight runners stranded.

Junior right hander Hunter Reynolds (Marlborough, Mass.) got the start on the mound for Pierce, but only lasted through one inning pitched following six runs allowed on four hits with a pair of walks. In relief, freshman Jackson Walker (Phippsburg, Maine), sophomore Esteban Rivera III (Hamden, Conn.) and senior Danny Garcia (Wilmington, Mass.) each entered for a combined five innings, allowing zero hits with five walks and a combined six strikeouts.

GAME #2:

To open the second game versus Jefferson, the Ravens ran into similar difficulties in the first inning of play. After a one-two-three top of frame, the Rams piled on three runs to jump out to an early 3-0 advantage, with all of the runs scoring off of RBI singles.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Ravens would finally end the scoreless drought. With one out and a runner on base, freshman outfielder Joey Acker (Upton, Mass.) delivered the first run of the day for Pierce on an RBI single into the gap in right center field, scoring sophomore Connor Smalley (West Sayville, N.Y.) to cut the deficit to 3-1. However, in the next inning, the Rams would reinstitute their three run lead following a single into left-center field, bringing the score to 4-1 in favor of the hosts.

With one last chance to deal some damage to return to the game, the Ravens did just that in the top of the seventh. Just two batters in, with senior Joel Lara (Boston, Mass.) on base following a lead-off single, fellow senior Joseph Pesce (Lake Mary, Fla.) belted a two-run home run to left field, pulling the Ravens to within one, 4-3. Following a single directly afterward, junior Ian Battipaglia (Cheshire, Conn.) would make his around to second base on a steal, but would then be caught stealing at third to eliminate the possibility of a score. The Ravens would still manage to load the bases with two outs in the inning, but would fail to deliver the equalizer before the Rams claimed the final out to win the contest.

Freshman Drew DeLucia (Medway, Mass.) made his collegiate debut on the mound in game two, and would allow four runs on equal hits, additionally walking and striking out the same number through five innings pitched. Fellow freshman Tommy Sullivan (Plymouth, Mass.) entered in relief to pitch one inning, allowing just one hit.

Baseball will look for redemption following a week off, as they get set to face-off against Felician University for a road weekend series beginning with a single matchup on Saturday, March 18^th at 5:00 p.m.