Sophomore clubs Conference-leading 11th home run of campaign

MANCHESTER, N.H. (April 22, 2015) – Sophomore third baseman Jay Jabs (Schwenksville, Pa.) drove a first-pitch, leadoff home run to center field in the top of the eighth inning on Wednesday evening to break a 3-3 tie and help the No. 1/3 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University baseball team to a 4-3 road win over No. 20 Southern New Hampshire in Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division play at Penmen Field. Sophomore right-hander Mike Lundin (Kingston, Mass.) went the distance on the hill and struck out six in the victory.

With the win, Franklin pierce improves to 35-2 (17-1 Northeast-10, 13-1 Northeast Division) and has won 16 in a row to match the program's longest winning streak, equaling its 16-win run to open the season. With the loss, Southern New Hampshire falls to 25-8 (11-3 Northeast-10, 11-3 Northeast Division). The victory marks the 10th straight season of at least 35 wins for Franklin Pierce

The win allows Franklin Pierce to take two of three in the season series against SNHU and open its Northeast Division lead to two games with seven to play. The Ravens' magic number is now five, and any combination of five Franklin Pierce wins and SNHU losses would allow Franklin Pierce to clinch the division's top seed in the upcoming Northeast-10 Championship. Franklin Pierce is also ranked first in the first NCAA East Regional rankings of the season, as announced Wednesday by the NCAA.

With the game tied 3-3, the Ravens had the heart of their order set to bat in the top of the eighth inning. Jabs wasted no time, as he took the first offering of the frame from SNHU freshman right-hander Jake Walkinshaw and drove it over the fence in center field for his 11th home run of the season to give Franklin Pierce a 4-3 lead. Lundin allowed just one baserunner after the Jabs home run, as he allowed a one-out single to sophomore second baseman Zach Goldstein in the eighth, but senior catcher Matt Walsh (Plymouth, Mass.) later erased Goldstein on stolen base attempt to end the inning. Lundin then set the Penmen down in order on nine pitches in the ninth to finish off his fourth complete game of the season.

Earlier in the day, Franklin Pierce opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning. Senior right fielder John Razzino (Cranston, R.I.) dropped a bunt single on the third-base side with two outs, stole second and came around to score on an RBI single by Walsh.

SNHU answered immediately, with a pair of runs in the home half of the first to jump to a 2-1 lead. Goldstein reached on an infield single leading off and scored two batters later on the fourth home run of the season for sophomore center fielder Carson Helms, a two-run shot to left field on the first pitch of the at-bat.

Franklin Pierce reclaimed the lead at 3-2 with two runs in the top of the third. The inning started at the top of the order, as junior center fielder Maxx Sheehan (San Jose, Calif.) pulled a leadoff single into left field and moved to second on a wild pitch. After a walk to Jabs, the Ravens put the double steal on. Sheehan swiped third, Jabs took second, and the throw to third by SNHU senior catcher Tyler Fortanascio escaped into left field, which allowed Sheehan to score and Jabs to move up to third. Jabs then scored from there on an RBI groundout by Walsh.

The Penmen evened things at 3-3 with an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth to set up Jabs' eventual heroics. Junior right fielder Ryan Gendron took a six-pitch walk leading off, stole second and wound up on third on the play, as Walsh's throw to second was off-target. Gendron eventually scored from third on an RBI infield single by Goldstein. Goldstein was later picked off of first, as he ended both the fifth and eighth innings by being thrown out on the bases.

Lundin went the distance on the mound for Franklin Pierce for the fourth time this season; three of those complete games have been road victories against nationally ranked opponents. He needed just 98 pitches (65 strikes) to dispatch the Penmen on Wednesday evening, as he allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits, walked two and struck out six to pick up the win (7-0).

For SNHU, senior right-hander Cole Warren piled up 110 pitches (70 strikes) over 6.1 innings, before departing after a one-out error behind him in the seventh. For his part, Warren allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits, walked three, hit a batter, threw three wild pitches and struck out eight, but did not factor in the decision. Walkinshaw threw 29 pitches (21 strikes) over the remaining 2.2 innings, allowed one run on two hits and struck out three while taking the loss (1-1) out of the bullpen.

The Ravens return to the field on Saturday, April 25, when they return home to open a three-game weekend series with a Northeast-10 Conference, Northeast Division doubleheader against Assumption. First pitch in the twinbill is set for 3 p.m. at Pappas Field in Rindge.

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).