Covelle goes distance (7 IP) in second game

LYNDHURST, N.J. (March 12, 2016) – After being shutout, 4-0, in the first game on Saturday afternoon, the No. 3/3 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University baseball team stormed back with three runs in the top of the first on the way to an 8-1 win at Felician in the second game of a doubleheader. With the win, the Ravens took three of the four non-conference games the two teams played over the weekend at Lyndhurst Recreation Complex.

With the split, Franklin Pierce moves to 12-1 on the season, while Felician now stands at 5-13.

In the first game, Felician got the only two runs it would need in the bottom of the second inning. Sophomore shortstop Bruce Strickland started things with a one-out infield single, moved to second on a balk and scored as sophomore left-hander Jason Polgano -- the Golden Falcons' starting pitcher -- knocked an RBI single back up the middle. Polgano stole second, took third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single to center by junior catcher Matt Kleinstein.

The Golden Falcons would double the lead to 4-0 with two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Sophomore left fielder Matt Diesel took a costly four-pitch walk leading off, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI double to right by junior right fielder Andrew LaMura. LaMura moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on an RBI single through the left side of the infield by Polgano, who had since moved to the designated hitter role.

On the other side of things, the Franklin Pierce offense could never get anything going. The Ravens had at least one baserunner in each inning, but they were held to six hits, got only two runners to third base and failed to capitalize on three Felician errors. It marked the first time Franklin Pierce had been shutout in a regular-season game since a 1-0, seven-inning loss at Dowling in the second game of a doubleheader on March 8, 2014.

Sophomore right-hander John Amendola (Wallingford, Conn.) started on the mound for the Ravens, but could not finish the fourth inning. Over 3.2 innings, he threw 51 pitches (36 strikes), allowed two runs on four hits, walked one, balked once, threw a wild pitch and struck out one while taking the loss (1-1).

Meanwhile, Polgano (1-0) fired 105 pitches (63 strikes) over seven shutout innings on the hill for Felician. He allowed six hits, walked two and struck out five to pick up the win.

The Ravens took out some of their offensive frustrations from the first game immediately in the second game, as they plated three runs each in the first and second innings to storm out to a 6-0 lead in the seven-inning affair. In the top of the first, graduate student left fielder Matt Burns (Parkland, Fla.) took a one-out walk, moved to second on a passed ball and scored two batters later on an RBI single pulled into right field by senior right fielder Max DiTondo (Marshfield, Mass.). DiTondo stole both second and third, before junior designated hitter Chris LaVorgna (North Haven, Conn.) took a walk to put runners at the corners. DiTondo would score on a balk, which also moved LaVorgna to second, and the latter would score on an RBI single to center by senior first baseman Matthew O'Herron (Springfield, Mass.).

In the top of the second, sophomore catcher Stephen Octave (New Windsor, N.Y.) -- filling in for sophomore Christopher Stanford (Quebec City, Quebec), who was ejected early in the first game after an altercation following a close play at the plate and thus had to sit out the second game as well -- led off with a single through the left side. Octave moved to second on a bunt single up the third-base line by senior shortstop Justin Brock (Latham, N.Y.). Senior center fielder Maxx Sheehan (San Jose, Calif.) followed and hit the ball on the ground, but an errant throw to second by Felician senior second baseman Ralph Caccavale left the bases loaded with nobody out. A four-pitch walk to Burns forced home Octave and kept the bases loaded for junior third baseman Jay Jabs (Schwenksville, Pa.), who notched an RBI, infield single to score Brock. Burns would later score when LaVorgna was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force home another run.

The Golden Falcons put together their only run of the second game in the bottom half of the second. LaMura led off with a single to center, moved to second on a wild pitch and managed to score from second on a groundout by Polgano, who played first base in the second game.

The Ravens tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh to create the 8-1 final. Senior second baseman Kurtis White (Nahant, Mass.) was hit by a pitch leading off, stole second, stole third and scored on an RBI single through the left side by Brock. Brock stole both second and third as well, and then scored on an RBI, pinch-hit groundout by sophomore John Friday (Southborough, Mass.).

Meanwhile, senior right-hander Paul Covelle (Medford, Mass.) dealt with Felician with little trouble, throwing 96 pitches (63 strikes) while logging all seven innings on the mound. He allowed one run on five hits, walked one, threw a wild pitch and struck out six to pick up the win (3-0).

On the other side, senior right-hander Dean Loucka (0-3) was chased from the game before he could record an out in the second inning. He threw 50 pitches (26 strikes) over just one inning and five batters, and was roughed up for six runs (five earned) on five hits, walked three, balked once and struck out two.

The Ravens return to the field on Monday, March 14, when they visit Mount Olive for the first game of a two-game, non-conference series. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Scarborough Field in Mount Olive, N.C.

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).