CARY, N.C. (March 18, 2016) – Junior third baseman Jay Jabs (Schwenksville, Pa.) finished 6-for-9 and scored five runs on Friday, leading the offensive attack for the No. 4/9 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University baseball team in a doubleheader sweep of Dowling in non-conference, neutral-site play at the USA Baseball National Training Complex. The Ravens picked up a 6-2 win in the first game, followed by an 8-2 victory in the second game.

With the wins, Franklin Pierce improves to 15-2, while Dowling falls to 3-9.

In the first game on Friday, Franklin Pierce -- playing as the home team -- opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. Sophomore catcher Stephen Octave (New Windsor, N.Y.) started things with a one-out single to right and came all the way around to score as senior shortstop Justin Brock (Latham, N.Y.) followed with an RBI triple the other way to right field. Brock then scored on an RBI single to left by senior center fielder Maxx Sheehan (San Jose, Calif.).

The Ravens pushed the lead to 3-0 with a run in the bottom of the fifth. This time Brock started things with a one-out single through the left side of the infield, went first-to-third on a single to center by Sheehan and scored when graduate student right fielder Matt Burns (Parkland, Fla.) bounced into a fielder's choice.

Dowling got on the board with a run in the top of the sixth to cut the gap to 3-1. With one out, former Raven and senior third baseman R.J. Going reached on a bunt single, moved to second on a groundout, stole third and scored on a wild pitch.

Franklin Pierce answered immediately with an unearned run in the bottom half of the sixth to make it 4-1. Jabs led off with a single to center, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, advanced to third on an errant pickoff attempt and scored on a sacrifice fly into right field by junior left fielder Chris LaVorgna (North Haven, Conn.).

The Ravens tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the eighth to push the lead as high as 6-1. Jabs started things again, this time by pulling a one-out single through the right side. He then stole second and went to third as the catcher's throw was errant, before senior designated hitter Max DiTondo (Marshfield, Mass.) worked a walk. LaVorgna then pulled an RBI single through the left side to score Jabs and move DiTondo up to second. After a double steal put runners at second and third, senior first baseman Matthew O'Herron (Springfield, Mass.) cashed in DiTondo with a sacrifice fly to left.

Dowling picked up a run in the top of the ninth to create the 6-2 final. Going led off with a single to center, moved to second on a groundout and scored on an RBI single back through the middle by senior first baseman Michael Richter.

Senior right-hander Paul Covelle (Medford, Mass.) fired 107 pitches (70 strikes) over the first 8.1 innings on the mound for Franklin Pierce. He was charged with two runs on five hits, walked two, hit one batter, threw a wild pitch and struck out five on the way to the win (4-0).

On the other side of the ledger, junior right-hander Cody McPartland (0-4) threw 103 pitches (78 strikes) over 7.1 innings. He allowed six runs (five earned) on 10 hits, did not issue a walk, hit a batter and struck out four while taking the loss.

In the second game, Franklin Pierce -- now playing as the visiting team -- opened the scoring immediately with three runs in the top of the first inning. Sheehan led off with a single through the left side, stole second and scored two batters later on an RBI triple clubbed into right by Jabs. LaVorgna followed and socked his first home run of the season to left field, a two-run shot to make it 3-0.

The game went without further scoring until the top of the seventh inning, when the Ravens struck for two more runs to make it a 5-0 game. With two outs and nobody on, Jabs turned on a 3-1 pitch and drilled his third home run of the season, a solo shot to right field. LaVorgna was then hit by a pitch, stole second and moved to third on a single through the left side by DiTondo. With runners at the corners and two out, LaVorgna would steal home as the Ravens put on the first-and-third double steal.

Dowling picked up its only two runs of the game in the bottom half of the seventh to cut the lead to 5-2. Richter led off with a double into right-center, moved to third two batters later on a single back through the middle by senior center fielder Chris Appell and scored on an RBI single to center by junior shortstop Tyler Piccolo. Appell moved around to third on the Piccolo single and later scored on a passed ball.

Franklin Pierce tacked on three further insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning to create the 8-2 final. Burns led off with a single to right and moved to second on a single to center by Jabs. After LaVorgna reached on an error to load the bases, DiTondo drove in Burns with an infield single. The remaining two runs would score via hit batsmen with the bases loaded, as both O'Herron and Octave drove in runs by being plunked.

Sophomore right-hander Anthony Matarazzo (Medford, Mass.) threw 89 pitches (63 strikes) over 6.2 innings on the hill in the second game for the Ravens. He allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits, walked one and struck out two to pick up the win (4-0).

Sophomore right-hander Dennis Buckstein (1-1) took the ball for Dowling, but lasted just two-thirds of an inning. He was hit for three runs on five hits and struck out one while being saddled with the loss.

The Ravens return to the field on Saturday, March 19, for a pair of non-conference, neutral-site games at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary. Franklin Pierce will take on Dominican (N.Y.) at 12:30 p.m., followed by another game against Dowling at 4:30 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).