Recap by Director of Athletic Communications Luke Tracy 

COLCHESTER, VT (4/11/2024) – A one day weather delay couldn't slow down the Ravens' momentum on Thursday after the team swept the Saint Michael's Purple Knights during their Northeast-10 Conference double header.   

Score:
GAME 1: Franklin Pierce 11, Saint Michael's 3
GAME 2: Franklin Pierce 6, Saint Michael's 2
Records: Franklin Pierce 16-9 (10-2, NE10), Saint Michael's 5-16 (2-5, NE10)
Location: Colchester, VT, Doc Jacobs Field
Date: Thursday, April 11, 2024

HOW IT HAPPENED:
GAME 1:

• The second inning was a fiery one for the Ravens as the team lit it up at the plate with four consecutive base hits from Joey Acker (Upton, MA), Nolan DeAndrade (Bridgewater, MA), Hunter Wilichoski (Hamilton, MA) and Chris Roberti (New Fairfield, CT).  Roberti's single to the left side sent Acker home for the team's first run of the game. With the bases loaded, Vincent Eramo (Shirley, MA) made his way to the plate and after four balls, he walked to first allowing DeAndrade to trot home for the second run of the game. During the next at bat, Connor Smalley (West Sayville, NY) singled to left center which sent Wilichoski home. Ian Battipaglia (Cheshire, CT) finished off the second inning scoring streak with a sacrifice fly to right field which sent Roberti home an boosted the lead to 4-0.
• After an RBI double from Wiliichoski in the top of the third, the Ravens reignited their offensive attack in the fourth inning. With the bases juiced and only one out, Kiobel Lugo (Boston, MA) singled up the middle sending Eramo home. Acker followed up with a sacrifice fly to center field which sent Eli Battipaglia (Cheshire, CT)  home. On the very next at bat, DeAndrade hit a two RBI single up the middle and boosted the Ravens' lead to 9-0.
• Raven pitcher Chaz Powell (Stamford, CT)  had the Knights figured out and held them scoreless until the sixth inning, when Evan Balian doubled to left field to send Sam Cavossa home for SMC's first run of the game.
• The Ravens added two more runs in the seventh and eighth inning thanks to DeAndrade and Lugo, which gave them a comfortable 11-1 lead going into the bottom of the ninth. Saint Michael's grabbed two more runs during bottom of the 9^th, but fell short in the 11-3 final.  
• Chaz Powell pitched eight innings and tallied seven strikeouts and only allowed three hits and one run. Kyle Salvati (Mount Sinai, NY) entered in the bottom of the ninth inning and recorded the save.
• BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS:
  • 2B: Batting: Kiobel Lugo , Hunter Wilichoski
  • RBI: Nolan DeAndrade (3), Kiobel Lugo (2), Connor Smalley , Ian Battipaglia, Joey Acker, Hunter Wilichoski , Christopher Roberti , Vincent Eramo

HOW IT HAPPENED:
GAME 2:

• In game two, the Hunter Wilichoski scored the first run of the game in the top of the second inning after he hit a single through the left side sending Joey Acker home.
• Later in the fourth inning, DeAndrade reached on a fielder's choice and while the ball was thrown to second to get Joey Acker out at second, Lugo crossed home plate to make it a 2-0 game. Two batters later, Brycen Tetler (Plymouth, MA) singled to the left side which let DeAndrade score a third run for the Ravens.
• With two outs down in the top of the seventh inning, Connor Smalley hit a double down the left field line which turned into a throwing error by the left fielder. Capitalizing on the moment, E. Battipaglia rounded third and then crossed home plate to make it 4-1.
• In the eighth inning, Nolan DeAndrade went yard to secure the team's final runs of the game. Saint Michael's tallied a final run in the bottom of the ninth but it was far from enough to mount a comeback.
• Niklas Pavia (Bolton, MA) played eight innings in the second game, tallying 12 strikeouts and kept the Knights to just four hits and a single run. Tyler McDonald (Haverhill, MA) entered in the ninth and recorded the save.

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS:

• 2B: Connor Smalley
• HR: Nolan DeAndrade
• RBI: Nolan DeAndrade (3) , Hunter Wilichoski , Brycen Tetler

NEXT FOR THE RAVENS: The Ravens return to Rindge for a pair of double headers against the University of New Haven on Saturday and Southern Connecticut State on Sunday.