Provencher makes first career start

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (March18, 2013) – Junior first baseman Zach Mathieu (Derry, N.H.) hit his second home run in as many days on Monday afternoon, and the Franklin Pierce University baseball team got the tying run into scoring position before ultimately coming up short in a 7-4 loss at Nova Southeastern in non-conference play at NSU Baseball Complex. Nova Southeastern used three-run home runs in both the second and fifth innings to pave the road to its win.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 9-8 (0-0 Northeast-10), while Nova Southeastern improves to 17-8 (2-1 Sunshine State).

Franklin Pierce opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning. Junior center fielder Calvin Graves (Boston, Mass.) was hit by a pitch, freshman shortstop Justin Brock (Latham, N.Y.) pulled a single through the left side and Mathieu looped a single to right field to load the bases with nobody out. After a lineout to right field, senior right fielder Nick LaCroix (Grafton, Mass.) lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score Graves.

Nova Southeastern plated three in the bottom of the second to jump out front, 3-1. With one out, senior right fielder Alex Marrero was hit by a pitch and stole second. Two batters later, he went to third on a wild pitch and then the Sharks wound up with runners at first and third as sophomore first baseman Michael Melendez worked a two-out walk. All this set the table for the number-nine hitter, senior second baseman Eric Acevedo. He blasted a three-run home run into the power alley in right-center, his team-leading third of the season.

The Ravens trimmed the deficit back to one at 3-2 with a run in the top of the third. With one out and nobody on, Mathieu launched his second home run in as many games, this one a solo shot to center field, his second of the season.

Franklin Pierce found another run in the top of the fifth to tie the game at 3-3. Graves led off with a triple the other way into the gap in right-center. He scored from third when Brock followed with a sacrifice fly to left.

Nova Southeastern answered right away, with three runs in the home half of the fifth to take a 6-3 lead. Sophomore center fielder Angel Navarro opened the inning with a double to right field and sophomore third baseman Brandon Sedell worked a walk two batters later to put runners at first and second with one out. Junior designated hitter Kevin Reynolds was next and clubbed the Sharks' second three-run home run of the day to center field, his first of the season.

Franklin Pierce inched closer with a run in the top of the eighth to cut the gap to 6-4. Mathieu was hit by a pitch to start the inning and moved to second when sophomore catcher Matt Walsh (Plymouth, Mass.) worked a walk. LaCroix was next and hit a fly ball to center field, but reached at second when the center fielder couldn't handle the ball. The error allowed Mathieu to come around to score. However, a pair of NSU pitchers would retire the next three hitters to strand LaCroix and Walsh at second and third.

The Sharks answered with a run in the bottom of the eighth to create the 7-4 final. Reynolds and Marrero led off with back-to-back walks before senior catcher Brett Clements bounced into a double play, which also moved Reynolds to third. He would score from there on an RBI double to left-center by Melendez.

Freshman left-hander Joe Provencher (Manchester, N.H.) made his first career start on the hill for the Ravens, pitched the first two innings and did not factor in the decision. He allowed three runs on two hits, walked one, struck out one and threw a wild pitch. Fellow freshman left-hander Gage Griffin (Moosup, Conn.) took the loss (0-1) in relief for Franklin Pierce. Over two innings of work, he allowed three runs on two hits, walked one and struck out one.

Senior right-hander Tyler Redding took the ball for Nova Southeastern and threw the first five innings. He allowed three runs on six hits, walked one and struck out two on the way to the win (3-0). Sophomore right-hander Kenny Miranda got the final four outs for the Sharks, including stranding the tying run at second in the eighth. Over 1.1 scoreless, hitless innings, he struck out two to earn his first save of the season.

The Ravens return to the field on Tuesday, March 19, when they travel to Lynn for a non-conference contest. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at McCusker Sports Complex in Boca Raton, Fla.

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).