Ravens push shutout streak to 37 innings before surrendering run

CARY, N.C. (March 16, 2015) – Junior right-hander Miles Sheehan (Madison, Conn.) fired eight shutout innings and struck out five on Monday morning, as the No. 7/9 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University baseball team posted its fourth straight shutout with a 2-0 win over Findlay in non-conference, neutral-site play at the USA Baseball National Training Complex. Later in the day, junior center fielder Maxx Sheehan (San Jose, Calif.) went 3-for-5 with a double, scored three times and drove in three runs as the Ravens picked up a 9-6 win over Felician.

With the wins, Franklin Pierce improves to 15-0 (0-0 Northeast-10) and extends its program-record winning streak to 15 games. Meanwhile, Findlay falls to 3-10 (0-0 Great Lakes) and Felician falls to 5-13 (0-0 Central Atlantic).

In the first game of the day, Franklin Pierce scored the only two runs of the contest in the bottom of the fifth inning. Sophomore second baseman Kyle Hood (Arlington, Mass.) led off with a single back through the middle, moved to second on a groundout and went to third on a bunt single by junior shortstop Justin Brock (Latham, N.Y.). Hood came in to score as Maxx Sheehan dropped down an RBI squeeze bunt, which also moved Brock up to second. Brock then took third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single back up the middle by sophomore third baseman Jay Jabs (Schwenksville, Pa.).

Meanwhile, Miles Sheehan threw 100 pitches (68 strikes) and faced 29 batters over eight shutout innings of work on the hill. He allowed five hits, did not issue a walk and struck out five to pick up the win (1-0). Senior right-hander Doug Willey (Shelburne, N.H.) surrendered a leadoff single in the ninth, but then rolled up a double play and struck out the next batter to pick up his third save of the season.

Sophomore right-hander Austin Rodesky started and threw 109 pitches (66 strikes) over six innings for Findlay. He allowed two runs on seven hits, walked one, struck out five and took the loss (1-2).

Against Felician, the Ravens opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Maxx Sheehan opened the frame with a single up the middle and moved to second on a single into right-center field by Jabs. After a sacrifice bunt moved both runners up, Maxx Sheehan scored on an RBI groundout by senior catcher Matt Walsh (Plymouth, Mass.).

Felician answered with a run in the top of the second to tie the game at 1-1. Sophomore first baseman Brennan Price doubled to center field leading off and moved to third on a wild pitch. After back-to-back walks loaded the bases, Franklin Pierce senior right-hander Conor Gleason (North Stonington, Conn.) got a pop up for the second out, but then issued a bases-loaded walk to sophomore catcher Matt Kleinstein to force home Price.

Franklin Pierce jumped back out front with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the second to take a 3-1 lead. With one out, Hood reached on an error, but was forced out at second while junior left fielder Kurtis White (Nahant, Mass.) reached on a fielder's choice. White moved to second on a bunt single by Brock, and both runners scored when Maxx Sheehan clubbed a two-run double into the gap in left-center.

The Ravens added a run in the bottom of the third to push the lead to 4-1. Senior right fielder John Razzino (Cranston, R.I.) led off with a double to center field, moved to third on a single to left by Walsh and later scored on a sacrifice fly to right by sophomore designated hitter Chris LaVorgna (North Haven, Conn.).

Felician plated three runs in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 4-4. With one out, Kleinstein and freshman center fielder Jason Polgano took back-to-back walks, which spelled the end of the day for Gleason. Junior left-hander Gage Griffin (Moosup, Conn.) took over and got a groundout which moved the runners up to second and third, but then issued a walk to senior shortstop Branden Shaw to load the bases and another to Price to force home Kleinstein. Junior designated hitter Gerard De Filippo was next and clubbed a two-run double to right field to score Polgano and Shaw.

After a scoreless fifth, Franklin Pierce reclaimed the lead for good with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out, White worked a walk and then went first-to-third on a double down the left-field line by Brock. Maxx Sheehan reached on a fielder's choice and picked up an RBI as White scored. After Maxx Sheehan stole second, Jabs reached on a fielder's choice, as the shortstop threw to the plate, but the throw went errant, which allowed Brock to score on the error. Maxx Sheehan then scored from third when Razzino followed and lifted a sacrifice fly to right field.

The Ravens tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh to push the lead to 8-4. Senior first baseman Matt O'Herron (Springfield, Mass.) walked leading off, but was erased at second as LaVorgna bounced into a fielder's choice. LaVorgna stole both second and third, and then scored on an RBI groundout by Hood.

Felician closed the deficit to two runs with a pair of runs in the top of the eighth. Sophomore right fielder Nick Vazquez led off with a double into the gap in right-center. Kleinstein followed with an infield single to shortstop and wound up on second on the play, as Brock threw the ball away, which also allowed Vazquez to come home to score. Polgano was next and slugged an RBI triple to right-center to drive in Kleinstein.

The Ravens added one last run in the bottom of the eighth to create the 9-6 final. With one out, Maxx Sheehan singled to left, went first-to-third on a single to right-center by Razzino and later scored on a wild pitch.

Gleason needed 80 pitches (42 strikes) to toss just 3.1 innings on the mound for the Ravens in the second game. He surrendered three runs on three hits, issued six walks, struck out just two and did not factor in the decision. Junior right-hander Tim Norton (Berlin, Conn.) later picked up the win (1-0) with 3.1 innings out of the bullpen. He allowed one run on two hits, did not issue a walk and struck out one. Willey took over in the eighth, recorded the final six outs, was charged with one run on two hits, did not issue a walk and struck out three to pick up his second save of the day, as well as his fourth of the season.

Senior left-hander Jack Fowler took the ball and threw 105 pitches (70 strikes) over six innings for Felician. He allowed seven runs (three earned) on nine hits, walked one, struck out six and suffered the loss (0-4).

The Ravens return to the field on Tuesday, March 17, with two more games at the USA Baseball National Training Complex. Franklin Pierce will take on Dominican (N.Y.) at 10:30 a.m. and No. 10/14 nationally ranked Mount Olive at 4 p.m.

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).