Ravens pitching walks just one, has now tossed 23 straight scoreless innings

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (March15, 2013) – Senior right-hander Ryan Thompson (Calgary, Alberta) and junior right-hander Trevor Graham (Sebastian, Fla.) struck out nine each over six and seven scoreless innings, respectively, on Friday afternoon, as the Franklin Pierce University baseball team opened an eight-game Florida trip with a pair of neutral-site, non-conference shutouts of Mercy. The Ravens used a 10-hit attack to post a 7-0 win in the first game before picking up a 2-0 win in the second game.

With the wins, Franklin Pierce improves to 8-5 (0-0 Northeast-10) on the season, while Mercy falls to 2-9-1 (0-0 East Coast). Both games of the doubleheader were of the seven-inning variety, with the Ravens playing as the home team in each contest. Franklin Pierce pitching issued only one walk and allowed nine hits while striking out 19 over the 14 innings of work. As a pitching staff, Ravens hurlers have now thrown three consecutive shutouts and have not allowed a run in 23 consecutive innings.

Starting pitching was the story of the day for Franklin Pierce. In the first game, Thompson allowed only four hits, all singles, without issuing a walk over his six innings to pick up the win (2-0). At one point, he retired 16 straight batters, a stretch spanning from one out in the first to two outs in the sixth. Sophomore right-hander Brendan O'Rourke (Shrewsbury, Mass.) walked one and struck out one in a hitless seventh to finish off the game.

In the nightcap, Graham also did not issue a walk and allowed five hits, again all singles, while going the distance to notch his second career shutout, his third career complete game (all seven innings) and the win (3-0). The Ravens did not allow an extra-base hit in the twinbill.

In the first game, the Ravens did most of their damage in the bottom of the fourth inning, when they plated six runs, though only two were earned as the Mercy defense committed a pair of errors along the way. Sophomore third baseman Matt O'Herron (Springfield, Mass.) had the biggest blow of the inning with a two-run triple, while junior left fielder Eric Romano (North Branford, Mass.) hit an RBI double as well. Also in the inning, freshman second baseman Rich Patrizio (East Northport, N.Y.) and junior center fielder Calvin Graves (Boston, Mass.) had RBI singles.

Franklin Pierce tacked on a run in the bottom of the sixth to create the 7-0 final. Freshman shortstop Justin Brock (Latham, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch with one out, stole second, moved to third on a groundout and scored on an RBI double by junior right fielder Nick LaCroix (Grafton, Mass.).

Junior right-hander Joseph O'Neill took the ball and threw all six innings for Mercy in the first game, though he took the loss (0-2). He allowed seven runs (three earned) on 10 hits and a hit batsman. He recorded neither a strikeout nor a walk in the outing.

In the second game, the Ravens got the only run they would need in the bottom of the first inning. Graves led off with a single, moved to second when LaCroix was hit by a pitch and scored two batters later on an RBI single by sophomore catcher Matt Walsh (Plymouth, Mass.).

Franklin Pierce later added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth to create the 2-0 final. Romano rang a double to open the frame, and was lifted for sophomore pinch runner Ryan Boswell (New Bedford, Mass.), who moved to third on a bunt single by Patrizio and scored on a sacrifice fly by Brock.

Mercy summoned freshman right-hander Christian Hock to the mound in the second game, and he tossed a complete game as well. He allowed two runs on five hits, walked two, hit a batter and struck out three, while taking the loss (1-1).

The Ravens return to the field on Saturday, March 16, when they take on fellow Northeast-10 member Adelphi in a neutral-site, non-conference contest. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at NSU Baseball Complex.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce baseball apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).