RUTHERSFORD, N.J. (3/19/23) – The Franklin Pierce baseball offense erupted for 31 runs scored through both games of a doubleheader matchup at Felician University, winning by separate scored of 25-10 and 6-2 on Sunday afternoon at Breslin Field.

With the two wins, Pierce baseball improves to 12-4 on the season, while Felician drops to 7-15 overall with the losses.

GAME #1:

The Ravens scored a season-high 25 runs in their first game of the afternoon behind an 18-hit outing. After opening the scoring in the top of the first on an RBI single from Ian Battipaglia (Cheshire, Conn.), the Ravens fell behind the Golden Eagles by a 3-1 margin in the bottom half.

However, the fifth inning was where the Ravens began to deal some heavy damage. With the bases loaded, Joseph Pesce (Lake Mary, Fla.) plated a pair of runners on a single to left, knotting the game up at 3-3. Two batters later, with two outs, sophomore Jose Savinon (Brooklyn, N.Y.) scored another runner on a double down the right field line, restoring the lead for Pierce at 4-3. Once more with the bases loaded, junior Julien Monks (Pacé, France) delivered another pair of runs on another double down the line in right. Monks would then cross home plate himself along with sophomore Connor Smalley (West Sayville, N.Y.), courtesy of a follow-up double to left by senior catcher Jake Miller (Waltham, Mass.). Felician would add a run in the bottom of the frame, but would find themselves doubled-up on entering the sixth, 8-4.

Both teams ended up five runs each in the seventh inning, with Pierce still hanging on to a four-run lead, 13-9. Pierce then got a pair of runs across in the top of the eighth behind a two RBI triple to left by Connor Smalley, and a scoring single up the middle from Julien Monks. Already leading 16-9, the Ravens then bombarded the Golden Eagles with a nine-run ninth.

Jose Savinon started and ended the scoring in the ninth for the Ravens, driving in runs on an RBI single and a sacrifice groundout to the Felician third baseman. In between, Pierce also saw RBI singles from Joseph Pesce, Connor Smalley, Adam Dadinos (East Hartford, Conn.) and Max Gebauer (Guilderland, N.Y.), while Jake Miller scored on a sacrifice fly-out to center. Ian Battipaglia and Julien Monks also received RBI credit on walks.   

In total, the 25 runs scored was the most in a single game for Franklin Pierce since April 28th, 2021 (30-3 win vs. Saint Michael's).

When all was said and done, six Ravens recorded multi-hit performances, with eight scoring multiple RBI. On the mound, junior Chaz Powell (Stamford, Conn.) improved to 3-0 on the season after striking out six through six innings pitched, allowing six runs on seven hits with four walks. In relief, freshman Tommy Sullivan (Plymouth, Mass.) allowed three runs on four hits, and Drew DeLucia (Medway, Mass.) struck out two batters with one hit allowed. Earning the save was senior righty Ryan Mueller (Lynbrook, N.Y.), who struck out two with one run allowed on three hits.

GAME #2:

The Ravens continued to get it done in game two of the Sunday doubleheader. As he had done in the opening game, Ian Battipaglia put the Ravens on the board first with an RBI triple in the top of the first inning. The 1-0 lead would hold all the way through till the bottom of the third, where Felician's Cole Porter scored the equalizer on a Pierce fielding error.

In the top of the fifth, the Ravens pulled ahead 3-1 on another Battipaglia triple to left center, scoring Joseph Pesce all the way from first base. In the next at bat, it was Pierce's turn to take advantage of a fielding error as Jose Savinon brought home Battipaglia after reaching on the throw. However, Felician infielder Haiden Walters made sure the Golden Eagles stayed close with a sacrifice ground-out to second base, cutting the lead back down to 3-2.

In the final inning, the Ravens worked some more late magic beginning with an RBI single up the middle by senior Jake Miller. Miller would then be the subject of a failed pickoff attempt by the Felician catcher, buying enough time to score Julien Monks from second base off the misguided throw. To add the final bit of insurance, freshman Adam Dadinos plated Miller from third base with an RBI single to the right side, wrapping up the score at 6-2.

Junior Hunter Reynolds (Marlborough, Mass.) earned the start for Franklin Pierce, and claimed his third win of the season (3-1) through a full seven innings of work, allowing two runs on five hits with five strikeouts.

Baseball prepares to make their 2023 season debut at home next weekend, kicking off a series with in-conference opponent Saint Michael's College on Saturday, March 25^th. The day will feature a doubleheader, with start times of Noon and 3:00 p.m. at Pappas Field.