Recap by student-staff writer Joe McLaughlin

CARY, N.C. (2/16/25) - The Franklin Pierce baseball team grabbed their first win of the season, defeating the Mercy Mavericks 8-4 in game two of their double-header Sunday. The win completed the split with the Mavericks after losing game one 11-10 and ended their trip in North Carolina.

Score: Game 1 – Franklin Pierce 10, Mercy 11, Game 2 – Franklin Pierce 8, Mercy 4.
Records: Franklin Pierce 1-2 (0-0 NE10), Mercy 2-2 (0-0 ECC)
Location: Cary, NC
Date: February 16th, 2025

Game 1:

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Mavericks started the scoring early in the top of the first inning. John Drisco grounded to short but reached first on an error, scoring Peyton Jemison and making it 1-0 Mavericks. Later in the inning, Sean McAdams hit a single, scoring John Nisco, and making it 2-0.
• The Ravens responded quickly in the bottom of the first. Senior infielder Anthony Marcano (Boston, MA) hit an RBI single, scoring junior infielder Nolan DeAndrade (Bridgewater, MA) to cut the lead in half 2-1.
• The Mavericks hit hard in the 4th inning, scoring five runs. Alfred Hoti hit a single and then advanced to second on a throwing error. Gabe Sanders scored on the error and Zach Ashline scored on the hit making it 4-1. Then, Peyton Jemison went long on a two-run shot to extend the lead to 6-1. Sean McAdams then grabbed his second RBI of the day, reaching first on an error, scoring Joseph Gonzalez, and making it 7-1.
• The Mavericks were not done yet as they kept adding to their lead in the 5th. A bad balk by the Ravens advanced all runners with the bases loaded, scoring Alfred Hoti. Then Joseph Gonzalez grounded out to second, scoring Kolongi Goins. After that, John Drisco singled scoring Peyton Jemison, giving the Mavericks a 10-1 lead.
• The Ravens mounted a comeback in the 7th, scoring four runs. Sophomore outfielder Jayden Villanueva (Lowell, MA) hit a sacrifice fly to score sophomore infielder Devin Kulas (Southington, CT). Later in the inning, senior infielder Kiobel Lugo (Boston, MA) was hit by a pitch, scoring freshman infielder Jacob Roque (Wilmington, MA). Then Nolan DeAndrade struck an RBI single, scoring redshirt sophomore catcher Brycen Tetler (Plymouth, MA). After that Anthony Marcano drew a walk and scored redshirt junior outfielder Shane Hewlette (Deer Park, NY) cutting the Mavericks lead to 10-5.
• The Ravens kept chipping away at the Mavericks' lead in the eighth, scoring four more runs. Shane Hewlette poked a 2-RBI single, scoring both Brycen Tetler and Jacob Roque. Later, a Mavericks' miscue on a wild pitch scored Jayden Villanueva and another wild pitch right after that scored Shane Hewlette making it 10-9.
• The Mavericks then scored Kyle Engmann in the 9th inning off an RBI single from Frankie Asaro to build their lead back up to two. It proved to be enough as the Ravens fell short of a comeback in the bottom of the 9th. Jayden Villanueva did strike an RBI single that scored Jacob Roque, but it was not enough as the Ravens fell short 11-10 in game one.

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS

• The Ravens could not come back from the miscues they made early in the game. They committed 6 errors in the game to the Mavericks 2, giving Mercy multiple unearned runs and opportunities to extend their lead.
• The Mavericks out hit the Ravens 15-7, doing the most damage with runners in scoring position.
• Andre Jenkins won the pitching battle for the Mavericks, pitching 6 innings, striking out 4 while only giving up 2 hits, a walk, and a run. Junior righty Drew Delucia (Medway, MA) did not fare as well, only pitching for 3 2/3 innings, giving up 8 hits, 7 runs, 5 earned, 2 walks and a home run, while striking out only one batter.

Game 2:

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Ravens found their footing in game two, building off the momentum they built in their game one rally. They started off hot in the first inning, scoring two runs. Jayden Villanueva stole third base and then scored off a throwing error. Later in the inning Nolan DeAndrade cracked an RBI single scoring Kiobel Lugo to put the Ravens up 2-0.
• The Mavericks had a quick response in the bottom of the first. David Bernard Jr. slapped an RBI single, scoring Peyton Jemison to cut the Ravens lead to 2-1.
• The Ravens struck again in the second. Shane Hewlette walked with the bases loaded scoring senior outfielder Zach Mascaro (Rocky Hill, CT) making it 3-1.
• The Mavericks then tied the game at 3 after a solo home run by Zach Ashline and a sacrifice fly by Joey Bodin that scored Gabe Sanders.
• Neither team would score again until the eighth inning, where the Ravens opened up the game with three runs. Redshirt freshman outfielder Shane Starr (Moretown, VT) hit an RBI single to score Anthony Marcano. Then Jacob Roque hit a sacrifice fly, scoring junior infielder Colin Hoffman (Longmeadow, MA). Shane Starr then scored on a Mavericks error, giving the Ravens a 6-3 lead.
• The Ravens continued to build their lead in the ninth as Nolan DeAndrade hit another RBI single to score Shane Hewlette. Colin Hoffman then hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Kiobel Lugo to give the Ravens an 8-3 lead.
• The Ravens would hold on to their lead despite giving up an RBI single to Peyton Jemison that scored Matt Hesselbirg and would win their first game of the season 8-4.

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS

• The Mavericks again out hit the Ravens but this time by a smaller margin. Mercy got 9 hits while Franklin Pierce got 7.
• The biggest difference was in errors. The Mavericks committed four errors while the Ravens had 0, a much better performance than in game one.
• For the Ravens pitching, it was a combined effort from senior and junior right-handers Esteban Rivera III (Hamden, CT) and Kyle Salvati (Mount Sinai, NY) who combined for 11 punchouts and only two walks. Salvati grabbed the win. John Gillespie started for the Mavericks but only pitched for an inning and a third. Gillespie gave up 3 hits, 3 runs, and 2 walks. Nevin Scaperotti was charged with the loss, after 6 1/3 innings, giving up 2 hits, 3 runs, and 5 walks with 3 punchouts.

UP NEXT FOR THE RAVENS: The Ravens fly further south to Myrtle Beach, SC where they will face the Post Eagles on Thursday. First pitch is set for 5:30 pm at the Ripken Complex in Myrtle Beach, SC.