Jabs opens eighth with double, scores eventual winning run

SAINT LEO, Fla. (March 19, 2014) – Junior right-hander Paul Fahey (Dorchester, Mass.) fired four scoreless, hitless innings of relief on Wednesday afternoon to keep the No. 30 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University baseball team close until the team came up with single runs in both the seventh and eighth innings to rally for a 4-3 win over Southern Connecticut State in non-conference play at Thomas B. Southard Stadium, on the campus of Saint Leo University. Junior second baseman Nick Baviello went 3-for-4 with an RBI double in defeat for SCSU.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 13-6 (0-0 Northeast-10), while Southern Connecticut State falls to 5-5-1 (0-0 Northeast-10).

SCSU, which played as the visiting team on Wednesday, opened the scoring with a run in the top of the second inning. Junior designated hitter Joe Breen worked a lead-off walk and moved to second on a wild pitch, before junior left fielder Brandon Docimo worked a walk as well. Both runners moved up a base two batters later on a single back through the middle by senior right fielder Kyle Holland, which loaded the bases with one out. The lineup flipped back to the top for sophomore right fielder Matt Burns, who lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to score Breen.

Franklin Pierce picked up a run in the bottom of the third inning to tie the game at 1-1. With one out, sophomore shortstop Justin Brock (Latham, N.Y.) worked a walk, stole second, moved to third on a groundout and later scored on a wild pitch.

Another run in the bottom of the fourth moved the Ravens out front, 2-1. Junior catcher Matt Walsh (Plymouth, Mass.) led off the inning and went the other way for a double down the right-field line. He scored two batters later on an RBI single pulled into left field by senior designated hitter Marty Dunlap (Dorchester, Mass.).

The Owls responded immediately with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to take a 3-2 lead. Holland opened the inning with a single to center and moved to second on a single to right by Burns. Baviello was next and plated Holland with an RBI double to left field, which also moved Burns around to third. The two-bagger spelled the end of the day for the Franklin Pierce starting pitcher, junior right-hander Conor Gleason (North Stonington, Conn.), who was lifted in favor of Fahey. Senior third baseman T.K. Kiernan was first to the plate against Fahey and greeted him with an RBI groundout on the right side to drive home Burns.

Franklin Pierce brought the game even again, at 3-3, with a run in the bottom of the seventh. Freshman left fielder Chris LaVorgna (North Haven, Conn.) led off with a single back up the middle and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman second baseman Kyle Hood (Arlington, Mass.). LaVorgna moved to third on a single through the middle by Brock, who stole second before senior center fielder Calvin Graves (Boston, Mass.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Junior right fielder John Razzino (Cranston, R.I.) was next and hit a groundball to shortstop which turned into an RBI fielder's choice as Graves was erased at second while LaVorgna scored.

Another run in the bottom of the eighth turned the 3-3 tie into a 4-3 lead for the Ravens. Freshman third baseman Jay Jabs (Schwenksville, Pa.) led off and cracked a double to right field. He then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Walsh and scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by sophomore first baseman Matt O'Herron (Springfield, Mass.).

Things got dicey in the top of the ninth before the Ravens finished off the 4-3 victory. Junior right-hander Doug Willey (Shelburne, N.H.) came on for the ninth and got the first batter to fly out to left, but then issued a walk to Kiernan in front of junior first baseman Julian Sobin, who put a single down the right-field line to move Kiernan to third as the tying run with only one out. After Sobin stole second, Franklin Pierce elected to issue an intentional walk to senior catcher T.J. Shea to load the bases. With no margin for error, Willey struck out Breen and got Docimo to bounce into a game-ending fielder's choice to nail down his sixth save of the season.

Gleason threw the first four innings and faced three batters in the fifth, before leaving without a decision on the mound for Franklin Pierce. He allowed three runs on six hits, walked three, threw a wild pitch and struck out five. Fahey came on from there and shut down the SCSU offense for the next four innings. He did not allow a hit, though he walked four (one intentionally) and hit a batter, while also ringing up five strikeouts to pick up the win (3-1) out of the bullpen.

Junior left-hander Pat Egan took the ball for SCSU and threw seven solid innings before leaving without a decision as well. He allowed three runs on five hits, walked two, hit a batter, threw a wild pitch and struck out five. Senior right-hander Will Meade came on for the eighth and wound up taking the loss (0-1) for the Owls after allowing one run on one hit.

The Ravens return to the field later on Wednesday, as they travel to No. 1/1 nationally ranked Tampa for a non-conference contest. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. at University of Tampa Baseball Field in Tampa, 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).