MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (February 26, 2022) -- A balanced, 12-hit attack led the way in the first game on Saturday for the Franklin Pierce University baseball team, which opened a neutral-site, non-conference doubleheader with a 6-2 win over Dominican (N.Y.) at The Ripken Experience. The Ravens suffered their first loss of the season in the second game though, as a four-spot in the fourth proved costly in a 4-1, seven-inning loss.

With the split, Franklin Pierce now stands at 3-1, while Dominican moves to 1-2.

Game 1: Franklin Pierce 6, Dominican 2

Playing as the visiting team in the first game, the Ravens got things started right away, with a pair in the top of the first. Sophomore Ian Battipaglia (Cheshire, Conn.) was hit by a pitch leading off, moved up on a bunt single by junior Joel Lara (Boston, Mass.) and then scored on an RBI single to right-center by graduate student Charles Lebron (Brooklyn, N.Y.). Lara later scored when sophomore Jose Savinon (Brooklyn, N.Y.) bounced into a fielder's choice.

Dominican got one back right away, in the bottom of the first. Junior Benjamin Avila took a one-out walk and later scored on an RBI double by senior Richard Paulino.

Franklin Pierce stretched the lead to 4-1 with two more in the top of the fourth. Savinon walked, junior Joseph Pesce (Lake Mary, Fla.) singled, and both later scored on a two-run single to center by junior Graham Smith (Wilmington, Mass.).

Dominican cut it to 4-2 with a run in the last of the fifth, but would get no closer. The Ravens tacked on solo runs in the sixth and ninth innings to create the 6-2 final.

Sophomore right-hander Chaz Powell (Stamford, Conn.) threw the first seven innings for Franklin Pierce. He allowed two runs on five hits, walked three, hit two batters and struck out five on the way to the win (1-0). Sophomore right-hander Hunter Reynolds (Marlborough, Mass.) took over to start the eighth and worked two scoreless, hitless innings to notch his first save of the season.

Freshman right-hander Brendan Turton (0-1) took the ball and went the first three-plus innings for Dominican. He surrendered four runs (three earned) on six hits, walked two, hit a batter and struck out four while taking the loss.

Game 2: Dominican 4, Franklin Pierce 1 (7 innings)

The second game was a seven-inning affair, and the Chargers got all they would need with four in the top of the fourth. Sophomore Shane Hewlette had the big blow in the inning, with a two-run triple to right field. Sophomore Tyler Patterson and junior Arthur Quinones both had RBI singles in the frame as well.

Franklin Pierce got its only run of the contest in the bottom of the sixth. Junior Jethro Hurt (New York, N.Y.) reached on an error, went to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on a walk and eventually scored on another wild pitch.

Sophomore right-hander Andres Auffant (Center Moriches, N.Y.) threw the first 3.1 innings for the Ravens. He allowed three runs on three hits, walked one, struck out five and suffered the loss (0-1).

On the other side, graduate student right-hander Jaden Diaz-Lambert (1-0) struck out seven over the first five innings on the way to the win for Dominican. He allowed just the one unearned run on three hits, walked two and hit a batter. Sophomore Robert Liriano recorded the final two outs to tally his first save of the season.

Franklin Pierce wraps up its five-game trip to Myrtle Beach on Sunday, with a 9 a.m. contest against Mercy.