RINDGE, N.H. (4/21/23) – If one walk-off win wasn't enough, the Franklin Pierce baseball team made sure the fans got what they wanted with a second victory in extra innings to complete the doubleheader sweep over Assumption University on Friday afternoon at Pappas Field.  

With the two wins, Pierce baseball improves to a 24-11 (11-3 NE10) mark on the season, while Assumption stumbles to 11-26 (4-10 NE10) overall with the losses.

GAME #1

Pierce would get things going in the first inning when junior Ian Battipaglia (Cheshire, Conn.) connected for an infield single, stole second, and advanced to third on a balk in the early goings. Now with two outs, freshman Adam Dadinos (East Hartford, Conn.) would then plate Battipaglia for the game's opening run with an RBI base hit to right field.

Following a scoreless second inning between the two clubs, the Greyhounds answered with a four-run third inning to jump ahead to a 4-1 lead, highlighted by separate two-run homers by graduates Jake Hamel and Connor Wironen. The score would not be altered until the bottom of the eighth inning.

With a runner on second and one out, sophomore Connor Smalley (West Sayville, N.Y.) broke the Raven scoreless streak with an RBI double to right field, cutting the Assumption lead down to 4-2. In the next at bat, Ian Battipaglia would slug a two-run homer out to left field, suddenly tying the score at 4-4. Following an Assumption pitching change, the Ravens continued to ride the momentum and would load the bases prior to another Adam Dadinos appearance at the plate. The Raven freshman then plated the go-ahead run after reaching on a fielder's choice.

The Greyhounds made it a short-lived lead, tying the game at 5-all in the top of the ninth inning on an RBI-single by Jake Hamel.

Jumping over a scoreless tenth inning, the Ravens would make quick work of the bottom of the 11^th. Leading-off as a pinch hitter, junior Hunter Wilichoski (Hamilton, Mass.) delivered the game winner for Pierce via a solo home run to left field, completing the comeback effort for the home squad with a 6-5 final to open the day.

On the mound, junior Kyle Roche (Braintree, Mass.) struck out a season-high 12 batters for Pierce, allowing four runs on four hits with two walks in his ninth start of the season. Fellow junior Tyler McDonald (Haverhill, Mass.) showed up for two innings of relief work, allowing one run on two hits with one strikeout. Earning the win in extras was freshman Drew DeLucia (Medway, Mass.), who improved to 2-2 overall with no hits allowed and four strikeouts, walking two.

GAME #2

In the Friday nightcap, Assumption would take things up a notch early with a three run first inning. With the bases loaded, junior Jared Berardino drove in the first two runs on a scoring single to right field, putting the Greyhounds ahead 2-0 with no outs. Shortly after, now with one out, infielder Jack Barry plated the third run of the frame with an RBI single to left center.

The Ravens cut the gap to 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring on an RBI double down the left field line by junior Julien Monks (Cambridge, Mass.). Assumption would respond in the top of the fifth with a run to bring their lead back up to four runs, but would soon after see it disappear in the bottom half. With a runner already stationed at second, Joel Lara turned an innocent bunt to the pitcher into an infield triple following a throwing error by the Assumption pitcher, scoring the runner to make it a 4-2 game. Lara himself would score off the next at bat thanks to a single to left field by Joseph Pesce (Lake Mary, Fla.), bring the Ravens to within one run of the Greyhounds. Then, junior Hunter Wilichoski plated the tying run with another base hit, this time to right field, scoring Pesce.

The game would then become a defensive battle as both teams would go scoreless through the next three innings of play, bringing the action back into extras. However, despite the relentless effort from both sides, the Ravens would be the favored team once again in the bottom of the ninth, winning it all by way of a walk-off RBI single to right field by senior Jake Miller (Waltham, Mass.).

Junior Chaz Powell (Stamford, Conn.) earned the start in game two, and pitched five innings with four runs allowed on six hits, walking two batters with four strikeouts. Raven right-hander Esteban Rivera III (Hamden, Conn.) handcuffed the Assumption hitters, tossing four no-hit innings, striking out five with one walk to earn the win on the mound.

It's right back at it tomorrow afternoon (4/22) for Pierce baseball, with two more on the docket against the Greyhounds to complete the weekend series. Game times are set for 12:00 and 3:00 p.m. for the Saturday twin-bill.