Eight and nine spots in order go 4-for-5 with seven RBIs

RINDGE, N.H. (March 31, 2015) – Junior shortstop Justin Brock (Latham, N.Y.) went 2-for-3 with a pair of two-run home runs and finished with five runs batted in on Tuesday afternoon, as the No. 5/5 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University baseball team picked up an 8-2 win over Saint Anselm in Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division play at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field. The bottom five spots in the Franklin Pierce lineup combined for eight hits and scored seven runs.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 22-2 (5-1 Northeast-10, 3-1 Northeast Division), while Saint Anselm falls to 5-11 (2-1 Northeast-10, 1-1 Northeast Division).

Saint Anselm opened the scoring with a run in the top of the third inning. Freshman catcher Shaine Carpenter started things with a one-out single back through the middle, moved to second on a walk to sophomore second baseman Matt Flynn and went to third when junior center fielder Ken Morrisino bounced into a fielder's choice. Carpenter would later score on an RBI single to center by freshman shortstop Max Wadington.

The Ravens answered with a pair of runs in the home half of the third to take the lead for good. Junior left fielder Kurtis White (Nahant, Mass.) reached with a one-out single back through the middle and scored when Brock followed with his first home run of the day, also his first of the season, a two-run shot to left.

Franklin Pierce picked up three more runs in the bottom of the fourth to push the lead to 5-1. Senior right fielder John Razzino (Cranston, R.I.) led off with a single to center, moved to second on an errant pickoff throw, stole third and later scored on a sacrifice fly to right by junior first baseman Matt O'Herron (Springfield, Mass.). Now with two outs and nobody on, sophomore designated hitter Chris LaVorgna (North Haven, Conn.) reached on an error by sophomore third baseman Nick Bragole and stole second. He moved to third when sophomore second baseman Kyle Hood (Arlington, Mass.) reached on an infield single. After Hood stole second, White cashed both runners in with a two-run single to right.

The Ravens added two more in the seventh and one more in the eighth, while Saint Anselm plated a run in the top of the eighth to create the 8-2 final. Brock drove in all three remaining runs for Franklin Pierce, with his second two-run home run of the day in the seventh inning and by being hit by a pitch in the eighth. For Saint Anselm in the eighth, Flynn singled through the middle and later scored when senior first baseman Mike Hayden was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Junior right-hander Paul Covelle (Medford, Mass.) started on the mound and threw 99 pitches (65 strikes) over 7.1 innings for Franklin Pierce. He allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits, walked two and struck out four to pick up the win (2-0).

Senior right-hander Dave Kent took the ball for Saint Anselm and threw 108 pitches (69 strikes) over 6.1 innings of work. He allowed seven runs (four earned) on seven hits, walked two and struck out six while taking the loss (0-4).

The Ravens return to the field on Wednesday, April 1, when they remain home to host American International in a non-conference 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).