Flynn logs seven-plus in career finale

MANCHESTER, N.H. (May 16, 2014) – Sophomore first baseman Scott De Jong clubbed a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth and followed with another in the bottom of the eighth on Friday as sixth-seeded Felician defeated the No. 28 nationally ranked and second-seeded Franklin Pierce University baseball team, 5-0, on the second day of the NCAA Championship East Regional, hosted by Southern New Hampshire at Penmen Field. Junior left-hander Jack Fowler tossed a six-hit shutout for Felician, as the Ravens were blanked for the second day in a row.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce is eliminated and sees its season and East Region title defense conclude at 35-18. Felician improves to 30-19 and will play at 3 p.m. on Saturday. For Franklin Pierce, an astounding streak of not being shutout in back-to-back games comes to a close. The last time the Ravens' offense came up empty twice in a row was on March 23, 2002, when the team was swept in a doubleheader at Grand Canyon, 9-0 and 5-0.

Fowler and Franklin Pierce senior right-hander Joe Flynn (Plymouth, Mass.) -- in what turned out to be the final start of his career -- matched zeroes through the first five innings. Franklin Pierce got a runner to second base in both the first and third innings but came up without a run both times, before stranding runners at the corners in the top of the sixth. For its part, Felician left runners at first and second in the third and then left a runner at second base in the fifth before getting on the board.

The Golden Falcons finally broke through against Flynn with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead for good. The inning started at the top of the order with senior center fielder Gabriel Fellin, who hit a ball deep in the hole at shortstop and wound up with an infield single. With Fellin in motion from first, senior shortstop Aaron Brill was called on to drop down a sacrifice bunt, which he pushed back towards the mound. Flynn's only play was at first, but his throw sailed over the head of sophomore first baseman Matt O'Herron (Springfield, Mass.) and down the right-field line. Fellin came all the way around to score on the error, while Brill wound up at third base.

With a runner on third and still nobody out, Flynn threw a first-pitch fastball which De Jong squared up and drove to straightaway center field. The shot cleared the fence and landed among the trees just to the left of the 385-foot mark in center for a two-run homer, his team-leading sixth of the season.

After both teams went in order in the seventh and Franklin Pierce did the same in the eighth as well, Felician tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the bottom half of the eighth. Brill led off the inning and hit a comebacker to Flynn, who again threw errantly to first, this time in the dirt. The ball skipped by O'Herron, which allowed Brill to reach at second. The throwing error spelled the end of Flynn's day, as the Ravens turned to junior right-hander Doug Willey (Shelburne, N.H.) out of the bullpen.

Willey tried to slip a first-pitch fastball past De Jong upon entering, but the result was the same as De Jong's previous plate appearance. This time he turned on the fastball and sent it into the bullpen in left field, his second home run of the day and seventh of the season. Now trailing by five, the Ravens made some noise in the ninth, with three straight two-out singles, but Fowler fanned freshman pinch hitter Adam Routhier (Goffstown, N.H.) to end the game.

Making his final collegiate start, Flynn logged seven-plus innings and threw 87 pitches (63 strikes). He allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits, did not issue a walk, threw a wild pitch, struck out eight and took the loss (5-3).

Fowler took the ball and threw 103 pitches (79 strikes) while going the distance for Felician. He authored a six-hit shutout, walked one and struck out seven on the way to the win (10-2).

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).