CARY, N.C. (March 5, 2022) -- The second day in the Tar Heel State did not go well for the No. 24 nationally-ranked Franklin Pierce University baseball team, which suffered a pair of defeats at the USA Baseball National Training Complex. The Ravens piled up nine runs on 12 hits in the first game of the day, but five pitchers combined to surrender 11 runs on 16 hits in an 11-9 loss to Frostburg State. Later, the only tally of the game was an unearned run in a 1-0 loss to East Region foe St. Thomas Aquinas.

With the losses, Franklin Pierce falls to 5-4. Frostburg State improved to 8-1 with the victory, while STAC improved to 3-5.

Frostburg State 11, Franklin Pierce 9

After surrendering an early run in the first game of the day, the Ravens built up an 8-4 lead with four in the third, two in the fourth and two more in the fifth. Graduate student Charles Lebron (Brooklyn, N.Y.) provided a two-run double in the third, but the rest of the runs came courtesy of a Frostburg State defense which committed seven errors on the day.

The Bobcats gave up seven unearned runs in the game, but rallied with three in the fifth, one in the sixth, three in the seventh and one more in the eighth to take the victory. The three in the bottom of the seventh gave Frostburg State the lead for good. Sophomore AJ Campbell bounced into a fielder's choice to drive in a run, while freshman Jacob Stretch put the Bobcats out front to stay with a two-run double.

The Franklin Pierce pitching left something to be desired in the contest. Sophomore right-hander Andres Auffant (Center Moriches, N.Y.) made the start and was tagged with six runs (five earned) on eight hits and two walks over 4.2 innings, with five strikeouts. Four bullpen arms combined to toss the final 3.1 innings, and allowed five runs on eight hits while doing so. Junior right-hander Ryan Mueller (Lynbrook, N.Y.) suffered the loss (0-1).

On the other side, five Frostburg State pitchers combined to serve up 12 hits and nine runs, though just two of them were earned. Sophomore Jarek Bacon (1-0) picked up the win while allowing an unearned run on two hits while recording four outs in the seventh and eighth. Stretch moved from shortstop to the mound and struck out a pair in a scoreless ninth to notch his third save of the season.

St. Thomas Aquinas 1, Franklin Pierce 0

In the second game of the day, an unearned run in the last of the second was the only scoring to be found. STAC junior Gregory DiGiaro clubbed a one-out double and then came around to score when senior Andrew Guerra followed and reach on an error.

Sophomore right-hander Chaz Powell (Stamford, Conn.) was the victim of the error, as the unearned run spoiled seven solid innings. He allowed four hits, walked one, hit a batter, struck out six, and suffered the loss anyway (1-1).

Senior right-hander John Archer (1-1) answered with seven shutout innings for the Spartans. He surrendered four hits, walked one, hit a batter and struck out five on the way to the win. Senior right-hander James Reilly picked up his first save with one strikeout in a scoreless ninth.

The Ravens wrap up their trip to North Carolina on Sunday, with a 10:30 a.m. rematch with No. 22 West Chester. Franklin Pierce defeated the Golden Rams 9-5 on Friday.