LaVorgna drives in seven in second game

RINDGE, N.H. (March 8, 2015) – Sophomore right-hander Mike Lundin (Kingston, Mass.) faced just 23 batters in an 11-strikeout, seven-inning no-hitter in the second game of a non-conference doubleheader on Sunday afternoon, as the No. 8/13 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University baseball team rolled to a 12-0 victory over Queens at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field. In the first game, senior right-hander Brendan O'Rourke (Shrewsbury, Mass.) piled up 10 strikeouts over six shutout innings, while sophomore third baseman Jay Jabs (Schwenksville, Pa.) went 3-for-3 with a home run.

With the wins, Franklin Pierce improves to 8-0 (0-0 Northeast-10), while Queens opens its season at 0-2 (0-0 East Coast). The Ravens last won their first eight games of the season in 2011, when they ran the streak to nine games before falling.

Lundin stole the show in the second game, as he blitzed through the Queens lineup with little effort. He needed just 84 pitches (59 strikes) to author his seven-inning no-hitter. The only baserunners against Lundin came in the top of the fifth inning, when he hit a pair of batters. He faced only two over the minimum, as both hit batsmen were stranded in the fifth. Along the way, he struck out 11, including all but one of Queens' starting nine hitters at least once each. It all added up to Lundin's second win in as many starts (2-0).

The offense provided support for Lundin early and often on Sunday. The Ravens opened the scoring with an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs, senior right fielder John Razzino (Cranston, R.I.) singled through the right side of the infield and moved to second when senior catcher Matt Walsh (Plymouth, Mass.) followed with a single to center. Razzino went to third on a balk and later scored on a passed ball.

Franklin Pierce broke the game open with five runs in the bottom of the third inning to push the lead to 6-0. A one-out error proved costly for Queens, as it ultimately allowed for the inning to be extended long enough for the Ravens to load the bases with two outs for sophomore left fielder Chris LaVorgna (North Haven, Conn.). LaVorgna turned on a 1-1 pitch and clubbed a 350-foot grand slam -- his first home run of the year -- down the left-field line to unload the bases. Earlier in the inning, junior shortstop Justin Brock (Latham, N.Y.) singled through the middle and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Jabs.

The Ravens tacked on six more in the bottom of the fourth to create the 12-0 final. Again, LaVorgna had the big blow of the inning, with a three-run double into the gap in right-center to push his RBI total to seven on the game. Jabs added a two-run double over the head of the right fielder in the inning.

Junior right-hander Brandon Burrell took the ball for Queens and threw 73 pitches (47 strikes) over the first 3.1 innings. He was touched up for nine runs (four earned) on eight hits, did not issue a walk, struck out two and took the loss (0-1).

Earlier in the day, it had been more of the same, as the Ravens opened the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the first inning of the first game and never looked back. Junior center fielder Maxx Sheehan (San Jose, Calif.) led off with an infield single, stole second, moved to third on a groundout and scored when Razzino socked an RBI triple to center. Razzino would wind up scoring on the play as well, on an errant throw by the cutoff man.

Franklin Pierce plated four more runs in the bottom of the second to push the lead to 6-0. Jabs opened the inning with a double and stole third, before senior designated hitter Bryan Dionicio (West Hartford, Conn.) and LaVorgna were both hit by pitches to load the bases. Sheehan and Brock followed with back-to-back fielder's choices to drive in runs, before Razzino followed with a two-run single to cap the inning.

The Ravens picked up two more runs in the bottom of the third to push the lead all the way to 8-0. After a lead-off walk to senior first baseman Matt O'Herron (Springfield, Mass.), Jabs clocked a two-run, line-drive home run over the fence in right field, his second of the season.

Franklin Pierce added two more in the sixth and three in the seventh to stretch the lead as high as 13-0. In the sixth, Dionicio and LaVorgna each scored a run. In the seventh, freshman first baseman Bobby Schryver (Ansonia, Conn.) had an RBI triple, junior second baseman Kurtis White (Nahant, Mass.) bounced into an RBI fielder's choice and junior center fielder Max DiTondo (Marshfield, Mass.) had an RBI single.

Queens scratched out its lone run of the day in the top of the ninth to create the 13-1 final. Sophomore shortstop Kevin Kolesar walked leading off and took second on a wild pitch. After a single by sophomore designated hitter Diego Gonzalez and a walk to junior center fielder Matt Dawkins loaded the bases, Kolesar came in to score as senior designated hitter Dan Walsh bounced into a double play.

O'Rourke took the ball and threw 87 pitches (55 strikes) over the first six innings in the first game for Franklin Pierce. He did not allow a run, surrendered two hits, walked one, hit one and struck out 10 on the way to the win (3-0).

Meanwhile, freshman right-hander Cameron Burt needed 50 pitches (30 strikes) to throw the first two innings on the hill for Queens. He allowed six runs (five earned) on four hits, did not issue a walk, hit two batters and struck out two while taking the loss (0-1).

The Ravens return to the field on Thursday, March 12, when they remain home to host Assumption in a non-conference contest. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. at Pappas Field.

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).