MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (February 24, 2018) – Senior catcher Stephen Octave (New Windsor, N.Y.) stroked a pivotal, two-run double in the top of the fifth, and junior right-hander Anthony Matarazzo (Medford, Mass.) slammed the door with authority in the ninth, as the Franklin Pierce University baseball team held on for a 6-5 win over Molloy in non-conference, neutral-site play at the Ripken Experience. Senior third baseman Zack Tower (Auburn, Mass.) provided his second home run of the young season in the victory, as well.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 4-0, while Molloy falls to 2-4.

Franklin Pierce opened the scoring with a run in the top of the second inning. Tower took a lead-off walk, moved to second on a single back up the middle by sophomore designated hitter Dylan Jones (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) and went to third on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore shortstop James Boria (Massapequa, N.Y.). Tower would later come in to score on a passed ball.

Molloy evened things up with a run in the bottom of the third. Sophomore shortstop James Messina reached on an error by the pitcher, senior right-hander Ryan Covelle (Medford, Mass.), leading off and moved to second two batters later, on a groundout by sophomore second baseman Sean Hogan. Messina would score from there when senior first baseman Angelo Navetta followed with an RBI triple to the gap in left-center.

The two teams traded runs in the fourth inning to make it a 2-2 game. In the top half of the inning, Tower led off with his second home run in as many games, a solo shot deep to center field. In the bottom half, Molloy answered with a solo home run of its own, a one-out shot to left field, courtesy of sophomore center fielder Jake Saltzman.

Franklin Pierce surged to a 5-2 lead with a three-spot in the top of the fifth. Junior center fielder Brad Roberto (San Diego, Calif.) reached on an infield single to start things off and moved to second on a single through the left side of the infield by senior right fielder Adam Chase (Bridgewater, Mass.). Senior second baseman John Friday (Southborough, Mass.) followed and clubbed a ground-rule double to right field, which scored Roberto and put runners at second and third for Octave. Octave then provided the signature hit of the game, as he drove a two-run double into left field to make it a three-run game.

Molloy chipped right back into the lead with a run in the bottom half of the fifth. Navetta opened the frame with a triple to center field and scored two batters later on an RBI groundout by freshman designated hitter Matt Overton.

The Lions closed the gap to 5-4 with a run in the bottom of the seventh. Navetta started things again, this time with a one-out single through the right side of the infield, but was then erased at second base, while senior right fielder Elijah Leerdam reached on a fielder's choice. The Ravens turned to the bullpen for senior left-hander Adam Goss (Waterford, Conn.), but he was greeted rudely, as Overton socked a double to right field to plate Leerdam. Sophomore right-hander Derek Duffy (Farmington, Conn.) took over from there and stranded the tying run at second base.

Franklin Pierce picked up what would turn out to be an important insurance run in the top of the eighth inning. With two outs and nobody on, Boria got things started with a single to center field and moved to second on a walk. Roberto then greeted a relief pitcher, junior right-hander Lucas Burton, with an RBI single to left field to make it a 6-4 game.

Molloy would answer with a run of its own in the bottom half of the eighth. Saltzman got things started in a hurry, as he opened the inning with a double down the right-field line. He moved to third two batters later on a groundout and scored on what should have been an RBI groundout by senior third baseman Jack McCarty, who wound up reaching at second on an error by Tower at third. Duffy again left the tying run in scoring position, this time by getting Hogan to bounce out to second base.

Matarazzo took over for the last of the ninth and retired the Lions in order to slam the door shut and pick up his second save of the season.

Making just his third career start, Covelle (1-0) logged 6.2 innings on the mound for the Ravens. He allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits, walked two and struck out five on the way to the win.

Graduate student left-hander C.J. Schildt (0-1) took the ball and threw the first seven innings for Molloy. He surrendered five runs (four earned) on 10 hits, walked three, hit a batter and struck out eight while taking the loss.

The Ravens wrap up their season-opening trip to Myrtle Beach on Sunday, when they meet LIU Post for a non-conference contest. First pitch is set for 9 a.m. at the Ripken Experience.

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).