WALTHAM, Mass. (4/8/23) - After splitting with NE10 opponent Bentley University on Friday afternoon, the No. 22 Franklin Pierce baseball program rebounded with a sweep over the Falcons on Saturday to close out the weekend series, winning by scores of 9-6 and 10-5 at DeFelice Field. 

With the wins, Pierce baseball jumps to 19-9 (7-1 NE10) overall while the Falcons drop to 13-12 (5-7 NE10) with the losses. 

GAME #1

The Ravens quickly went to work loading the bases early on in the first inning, which resulted in their first run of the game started on a shallow sacrifice fly-out by senior Jake Miller (Waltham, Mass.), scoring junior Ian Battipaglia (Cheshire, Conn.) from third. However, the Falcons would match the Ravens run in the bottom half of the inning, along with some interest as the result of two Pierce errors to leap ahead by a 2-1 margin.

The Ravens would wait long before stealing the lead back for themselves, scoring four runs in the top of the second. Senior Max Gebauer () singled to start the top of the frame, and was then followed by a walk to junior Julien Monks (Cambridge, Mass.) and a single by sophomore Connor Smalley (West Sayville, N.Y.), loading the bases yet again for the Ravens. In similar fashion to the first inning, Ian Battipaglia then hit a sac-fly to right field to score the lead runner. Shortly after, senior Joel Lara (Boston, Mass.) would lay down a bunt and reach on the fielder's choice, plating another run. To close out the second inning scoring, sophomore Jose Savinon (Brooklyn, N.Y.) would rip a ball straight up the middle to deliver another two RBI for the Ravens, putting them ahead, 5-2.  

Things would go quiet For the next inning and a half, but Pierce would return for more in the top of the fourth with another pair of runs. Following back-to-back singles to lead off the inning, a double-steal would place both runners in scoring position for Jose Savinon, who skipped a ground ball to the Bentley shortstop to score the lead runner. The second run would arrive by way of another sacrifice fly-out, this time by Joseph Pesce (Lake Mary, Fla.) to extend the Raven lead to 7-2. 

Bentley would answer back with a single run in the bottom half, desperately trying to narrow down the Raven lead. With a runner at third, second baseman Jackson Walonis made it a 7-3 game with his own sac-fly to center field. The next two innings would yield no runs between the two squads, who combined for just three hits across that span.

In the seventh the Ravens cushioned their lead even more when Julien Monks connected for an RBI single to center with two runners on. To follow, Connor Smalley would then be hit by a pitch that loaded the bases for the third time on the day for Pierce, leading to a walk to Ian Battipaglia to bring home the final Raven for the 9-3 lead.  

However, nothing was set in stone as the Falcons continued to pose a threat late in the action. With their own loaded bases scenario, Stan DeMartinis plated one run on a sac-fly to right field, cutting the Raven lead down to 9-4. Then, with two outs, Jackson Walonis returned with an RBI single up the middle to score another run. Bentley would snag one more point on a walk, but would fail to inch any closer as the Ravens walked away with the 9-6 win.   

Junior Hunter Reynolds (Marlborough, Mass.) picked up the win after six innings on the mound, allowing one earned run on three hits and two walks, striking out three. Senior Jackson Walker (Phippsburg, Maine) helped out in relief, allowing three runs on three hits through 0.2 innings of work, while graduate Brian Hadden (Newburyport, Mass.) closed things out to earn his sixth save of the season with one walk and one strikeout.

GAME #2

To open game two of the afternoon, Bentley kicked off the scoring after a two RBI single to left field by Tim Zupkus to give the hosts the early 2-0 edge. The Bentley lead would hold firm through a four scoreless innings, with both the Ravens and Falcons combining for just six hits down the stretch.

However, it was in the top of the sixth where the Ravens finally got things going. With senior Jake Miller on base from a fielder's choice, freshman outfielder Adam Dadinos (East Hartford, Conn.) belted an RBI double into the left-center gap to cut the host lead in half. However, Bentley would go back to work as well with a leadoff single by Tyler Gonzalez in the bottom half, which would become more troublesome on a Pierce wild pitch. Then, as the result of an error by the Ravens, shortstop Tommy Bolton scored the runner after reaching first, extending the Bentley lead to 4-1.  

In the seventh the Ravens were able to rally. Respective singles by Connor Smalley and Ian Battipaglia gave the Ravens runners at the corners, bringing Joel Lara up to the plate. Lara then launched a game tying three-run homer to left field to restore the Pierce chance for a sweep.  

Bentley would retake the lead, however, by tallying a run on another RBI drive by Tyler Gonzalez in the bottom of the seventh. With the momentum still in their favor, the Ravens rebounded in the eighth to tie it up yet again as Jake Miller led off with a single, making his way to third on a failed pickoff attempt. Max Gebauer would then deliver the tying run with an RBI single into center field to drive in Miller, and eventually score himself after three straight Falcon walks to give Pierce it's first lead of the game. Joel Lara and Jose Savinon would each add an RBI prior to the end of the frame, bringing the Raven lead to 8-5.

The ninth was all about lead management for the Ravens, as they added a pair of insurance runs. Consecutive singles by Adam Dadinos and Max Gebauer brought up Julien Monks, who's single to center plated one run, while freshman Thomas Dillon (Sudbury, Mass.) followed it up with a sac-fly to allow Gebauer to tag up, making it 10-5 Ravens with his first collegiate RBI.  

Senior Ryan Mueller (Lynnbrook, N.Y.) picked up the win out of the bullpen, pitching two and a third innings with no hits, no runs, no walks, and five strikeouts. Steve Hardiman (2-2) took the loss after only pitching two thirds of an inning allowing four earned runs.  

The Ravens will remain on the road to face in-state rival Saint Anslem College on Friday, April 14^th for a single-game matchup to kick-off the weekend series, with first pitch at 3:00 p.m.