Recap by student-staff writer Rich Rosa 

RINDGE, N.H (3/8/2024) --The Franklin Pierce baseball team rallied from behind in both games to secure the doubleheader sweep against St. Michael's Saturday afternoon at Pappas Field. 

Score (Game 1): Franklin Pierce 5, St. Michael's 3
Score (Game 2): Franklin Pierce 9, St. Michael's 6
Records: Franklin Pierce (4-5, 0-0 NE-10), St. Michael's (1-7, 0-0 NE-10)
Location: Rindge, N.H (Pappas Field)
Date: Friday, March 8, 2024

HOW IT HAPPENED:
• In Game 1 of the doubleheader, Franklin Pierce got on the board first. In the bottom of the second, redshirt freshman Brennan Staubley (Plainville, CT) had a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring junior transfer infielder Kiobel Lugo (Boston, MA). St. Michael's tied the game in the top of the fourth on an RBI Triple by freshman shortstop Trevor Arsenault. 
• In the top of the fifth, freshman outfielder Dom Tetta had a 2 RBI single to right field to give the Purple Knights their first lead. In the bottom of the fifth, redshirt freshman Brycen Tetler (Plymouth, MA) had his first hit of the season, scoring graduate outfielder Eli Battipaglia (Cheshire, CT) to cut the Purple Knights lead to one. Next, sophomore transfer first baseman Nolan DeAndrade (Bridgewater, MA), Tetler, and Lugo scored on multiple errors by St. Michael's to make it 5-3 Franklin Pierce. The Ravens secured the game one victory over the Purple Knights, 5-3. 
• In Game 2 of the doubleheader, both teams scored two runs in the first inning. St. Michael's junior infielder Max Kolifrath had a two-run blast to right field. For Franklin Pierce, Lugo had an RBI single to left field, scoring graduate infielder Ian Battipaglia (Cheshire, CT) to cut the lead in half. Next, DeAndrade had an RBI double to left field, scoring Lugo to tie the game at two. 
• In the second inning, the Purple Knights scored four runs to take a 6-2 lead over the Ravens. Franklin Pierce cut the St. Michael's lead to two when Lugo had a 2 RBI double to center field. 
• In the fourth inning, it was all Franklin Pierce, where they scored four runs. Graduate transfer outfielder Vincent Eramo (Shirley, MA) had an RBI double to left field, scoring redshirt sophomore Adam Dadinos (East Hartford, CT). Next, Graduate transfer catcher Christopher Roberti (New Fairfield, CT) homered to left field to give Franklin Pierce their first lead of the game. Then, Ian Battipaglia had an RBI single to center field to give the Ravens an 8-6 lead.
• In the bottom of the sixth, the Ravens added an insurance run when Lugo singled to center field, scoring freshman outfielder Michael Quiros (Springfield, MA). The Ravens scored seven unanswered runs to grab the 9-6 victory and the doubleheader sweep over the Purple Knights. 

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS:
• In Game 1, senior pitcher Kyle Roche (Braintree, MA) picked up his second win of the season. He pitched five innings, giving up six hits, three runs, five walks, and struck out nine batters. Junior pitcher Esteban Rivera III (Hamden, CT) closed the game, pitching two scoreless innings in relief, giving up no hits and striking out five batters. 
• Franklin Pierce had four hits in game one. Lugo was two for three and scored two runs.
• The story of game two was junior pitcher Stephen Bangs (Stoughton, MA) pitching five innings scoreless in relief. He gave up two hits, one walk, and struck out eight batters. He picked up his second win of the season to improve to 2-0. 
• The Ravens erupted with 12 hits in game two. Ian Battipaglia was three for four, had one RBI, and scored a run. Lugo was three for four, scored a run, and had four RBIs. Quiros was two for four and scored a run. 

NEXT UP FOR THE RAVENS:
• The Ravens hit the road next weekend to the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for a four-game series against the Rams of Jefferson University. Games one and two are on Saturday, March 16, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Games three and four are on Sunday, March 17, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.