MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. (3/3/23) – A week after their season opening journey down to South Carolina, the Franklin Pierce baseball team shifted slightly north to kick off a weekend series with regional opponent Post University, opening with a 1-0 shutout over the Eagles on Friday evening in Morehead City, North Carolina.

With the win, the Ravens improve to 5-1 overall on the season, while Post draws even at 6-6 with the loss.

After three scoreless innings, the Ravens secured the deciding run in the top of the fourth inning. After receiving a free pass to first base on a walk, junior Ian Battipaglia (Cheshire, Conn.) eventually found his way to third base after a passed ball situation, followed by a stolen base. Now with two outs in the inning, senior catcher Max Gebauer (Guilderland, N.Y.) would also take a walk to first base, and shortly thereafter attempt to steal second. On the throw, which would catch Gebauer stealing, Battipaglia would take the opportunity to mosey his way home from third, making it the 1-0 game for Pierce.

However, neither team would be able to alter the score any further, as the Raven defense would limit the Eagles to just three hits across the final five innings of play.

Raven starter Kyle Roche (Braintree, Mass.) was sensational on the mound for Franklin Pierce, as the junior righthander picked up the win after tossing seven scoreless innings with three walks and nine strikeouts, improving to 2-0 on the season. Freshman newcomer Drew DeLucia (Medway, Mass.) tossed two innings of scoreless relief.

The Ravens and Eagles will matchup again on Saturday, March 4^th for a doubleheader matchup to continue the weekend series, with first pitch of game one at 1:00 p.m.