Four combine for three-hit shutout in first game

RINDGE, N.H. (March 29, 2015) – Junior center fielder Maxx Sheehan (San Jose, Calif.) went 3-for-6 with a double, triple and home run, scored three runs and drove in five in the first game on Sunday afternoon, as the No. 5/6 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University baseball team piled up 19 hits in a 23-2 romp over Saint Michael's in Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division play at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field. In the second game, junior right-hander Miles Sheehan (Madison, Conn.) allowed just one unearned run on three hits over eight innings of work as the Ravens completed the doubleheader sweep with a 4-1 win.

With the wins, Franklin Pierce improves to 21-2 (4-1 Northeast-10, 2-1 Northeast Division), while Saint Michael's falls to 4-11 (0-4 Northeast-10, 0-4 Northeast Division).

Franklin Pierce opened the scoring in the first game with a run in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back. Maxx Sheehan led off and took the second pitch of his at-bat approximately 370 feet to straightaway left for a solo home run, his first as a Raven.

The Ravens picked up three more runs in the bottom of the second inning to push the lead to 4-0. Sophomore designated hitter Chris LaVorgna (North Haven, Conn.) led off with a double to right, which Saint Michael's sophomore right fielder Drew Salk nearly made a diving play on, but the ball went in and out of his glove. LaVorgna moved to third when sophomore second baseman Kyle Hood (Arlington, Mass.) reached on an error and scored on an RBI single to right by junior left fielder Kurtis White (Nahant, Mass.). Eventually, a bunt single by junior shortstop Justin Brock (Latham, N.Y.) loaded the bases, before sophomore third baseman Jay Jabs (Schwenksville, Pa.) bounced into an RBI fielder's choice and senior right fielder John Razzino (Cranston, R.I.) knocked an RBI single into center field.

Franklin Pierce broke the game open in the bottom of the third inning, when it sent 11 men to the plate and scored six runs to make it 10-0. Maxx Sheehan had the big blow of the inning, with a two-run triple over the head of Saint Michael's senior center fielder Nick Elderton, who had lost the ball in the sun. Also in the inning, Jabs clubbed an RBI triple into the right-field corner, out of the reach of a diving Salk; Walsh drove in a run with a sacrifice fly; LaVorgna dumped an RBI single into left-center and Brock drove in a run while reaching on a fielder's choice.

The Ravens had an even stronger inning in the bottom of the fifth, when 13 men came to bat and eight runs came across the plate to stretch the lead out to 18-0. Maxx Sheehan had a two-run double the other way down the right-field line, while O'Herron, Razzino, White and Brock all had RBI singles. Also in the inning, Walsh drove in a run while reaching on an error and LaVorgna bounced into an RBI fielder's choice.

A quartet of unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth made it 22-0, after freshman catcher Christopher Stanford (Quebec City, Quebec) came up with the bases loaded. He got a first-pitch fastball over the heart of the plate and picked up his first collegiate hit by depositing it behind the fence in left-center field for a grand slam of an estimated 375 feet.

Saint Michael's picked up solo runs in the top of the seventh and ninth innings, while Franklin Pierce added a run in the bottom of the eighth inning to create the 23-2 final. In the seventh, Saint Michael's senior first baseman George Buteau led off with a walk and later scored on a sacrifice fly by junior designated hitter Matt Feeney. In the eighth, Franklin Pierce junior center fielder Max DiTondo (Marshfield, Mass.) walked and later scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore right fielder Anthony DeDona (Bethpage, N.Y.). In the ninth, Buteau singled and later scored on an RBI single by Feeney.

Senior right-hander Brendan O'Rourke (Shrewsbury, Mass.) took the ball in the first game on Sunday for Franklin Pierce and threw six shutout, no-hit innings before leaving after 80 pitches (47 strikes). He walked two, hit a batter and struck out seven on the way to the win (6-0).

On the other side, sophomore left-hander Alex Winkelmann threw 61 pitches (41 strikes) over 2.1 innings on the mound for Saint Michael's. He was roughed up for 10 runs (eight earned) on 10 hits, walked three and struck out two while taking the loss (1-3).

After the first game took three hours and five minutes to finish, Franklin Pierce opened the scoring of what would be a two-hour second game with an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning. Maxx Sheehan reached on an error by sophomore third baseman Kyle Cone to open the inning, moved to second on a passed ball and came around to score on an RBI double to right field after Walsh dropped a blooper into no-man's land between the first baseman, second baseman and right fielder.

The Ravens picked up another run in the bottom of the second to double the lead to 2-0. LaVorgna led off with a single to left, moved to second on a groundout and scored on an RBI single to left by White.

Saint Michael's cut the deficit in half with an unearned run in the top of the fourth inning. Senior second baseman Michael Dougherty started things with a lead-off double down the left-field line, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior shortstop Don McGuirl and came in to score on a passed ball.

Franklin Pierce immediately reclaimed the two-run lead with a run in the home half of the fourth. O'Herron opened the frame with a single through the left side of the infield, moved to second when Hood was hit by a pitch and scored on an RBI single through the right side by White.

The Ravens tacked on one last insurance run -- an unearned tally -- in the bottom of the seventh to create the 4-1 final. Brock started things with a one-out single through the left side and then stole second. He wound up on third on the play, as the throw by Saint Michael's freshman catcher PJ Jasak sailed into center field. Brock would later score on a safety squeeze bunt by Maxx Sheehan.

Miles Sheehan tossed just 88 pitches (60 strikes) over eight strong innings in the second game. He surrendered just the lone unearned run on three hits, walked one, hit a batter and struck out five on the way to the win (3-0). Senior right-hander Paul Fahey (Dorchester, Mass.) retired the side in order on 11 pitches (eight strikes) and struck out one to pick up his first collegiate save.

For Saint Michael's, junior right-hander Curt Echo threw 87 pitches (58 strikes) over seven innings on the mound. He allowed four runs (two earned) on eight hits, did not issue a walk, hit one batter and did not record a strikeout either, while suffering the loss (0-4).

The Ravens return to the field on Tuesday, March 31, when they remain home to host Saint Anselm in a Northeast-10 Conference, Northeast Division contest. First pitch is set for 3:30 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).