WEST HAVEN, Conn. (3/22/25)  – The Franklin Pierce University Ravens baseball team opened NE-10 play with a bang on Saturday afternoon, sweeping the defending NE-10 champion New Haven Chargers on the road.  

Score:  

Game 1: Franklin Pierce 5, New Haven 2  

Game 2: Franklin Pierce 6, New Haven 3 

Records: Franklin Pierce (10-12, 2-0 NE-10), New Haven (11-5, 0-2 NE-10) 

Location: West Haven, C.T.  

Date: Saturday, March 22, 2025 

Game 1:

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• The first game of the twin bill proved to be a pitcher's duel between the Ravens and the Chargers. Sophomore right hander Niklas Pavia (Bolton, Mass.) took the mound for the Ravens and delivered a phenomenal performance. He struck out an incredible 11 batters through 7 innings. His lone blemish came in the 7th inning to break the scoreless tie. Nick Ungania laced a single to center field to score EJ Ettinger and give the Chargers the 1-0 lead.  

• It was do or die for the Ravens in the top of the 9th inning. The late rally started with senior center fielder Joey Acker (Upton, Mass.) smacking a double into left field. Then, senior second baseman Kiobel Lugo (Boston, Mass.) was hit by a pitch and junior first baseman Nolan DeAndrade (Bridgewater, Mass.) drew a walk to load the bases. The Ravens finally got on the board as graduate third baseman Julien Monks (Pacé, France) drew a walk to score Joey Acker and tie it up 1-1. Then, they took their first lead of the game. Junior shortstop Ivan Arias (Boston, Mass.) roped a double into field to score Nolan DeAndrade and Kiobel Lugo, putting the Ravens up 3-1. The Ravens continued to attack as sophomore right fielder Devin Kulas (Southington, Conn.) lifted a single into right field to score Julien Monks and make it 4-1. Redshirt junior left fielder Shane Hewlette (Deer Park, N.Y.) capped off the inning with a sacrifice fly to center field to score Ivan Arias and give the Ravens the 5-1 lead.  

• The Chargers needed a late comeback to force extra innings. Nick Ungania gave the Chargers life with his second RBI of the game with a single to center field, scoring EJ Ettinger and making it 5-2 Ravens. The Chargers couldn't muster up more runs and fell short in the first game of the doubleheader 5-2.  

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS: 

• The Ravens outhit the Chargers 9-6.  

• The Ravens committed no errors, the Chargers committed 1. 

• Niklas Pavia started for the Ravens and pitched 7 dominant innings, allowing 4 hits, 1 earned run, 3 walks, and punching out 11 batters.  

• Redshirt senior right-hander Sean Foody (Orangeburg, N.Y.) recorded the win in relief for the Ravens. He pitched an inning and two-thirds, giving up 2 hits, an earned run, and striking out 3 batters.  

• Redshirt freshman right-hander Matt Lee (Pittsfield, Mass.) earned the save on the mound. He pitched a third of an inning and struck out a batter to close out the Game 1 victory.  

Game 2: 

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• The Ravens struck first in the top of the 1st inning. Anthony Marcano () reached first on a fielder's choice and Kiobel Lugo scored off an error by the second baseman.  

• The Chargers tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Joseph Frazzetta grounded out to Ravens shortstop Ivan Arias and Tyler Wells scored from third base.  

• The Ravens broke through in the middle innings. In the top of the 4th, Shane Hewlette ripped a single to left field to score 2 runs and put the Ravens back in front 3-1.  

• The Ravens tacked on another run in the 5th. Nolan DeAndrade flied out to left field to score senior designated hitter Elias Meredith (Philadelphia, Pa.) from third on a sacrifice fly.  

• The Chargers got a run back in the bottom of the 5th. Nick Ungania reached first on an error by Ravens second baseman Kiobel Lugo to score Aedan Forde and make it 4-2 Ravens.  

• The Ravens took full command of the game in the 6th inning. Shane Hewlette clobbered a 2-run homer to give the Ravens the 6-2 lead in a dominant 4 RBI performance for the Ravens left fielder.  

• The Chargers managed to score a run in the bottom of the 6th as Cam McGugan reached on a fielder's choice and Tyler Wells scored from third to cut the deficit to 6-3. However, the late rally wasn't enough as the Ravens secured the 6-3 win to earn the series sweep on the road.  

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS: 

• The Ravens outhit the Chargers 6-3.  

• The Ravens committed 2 errors compared to 3 from the Chargers.  

• Junior right-hander Kyle Salvati (Mount Sinai, N.Y.) recorded the win on the mound for the Ravens. He pitched 5 and a third innings, giving up 3 hits, 2 earned runs, walking 2 batters, and recording a strikeout.  

• Freshman right-hander Damien Carter (Milford, Mass.) came in relief and pitched two-thirds of an inning. He walked one batter and gave up no runs or hits.  

• Matt Lee earned his 2nd save of the afternoon as he pitched a scoreless 7th inning, walking 2 batters and striking out 1.  

NEXT UP FOR THE RAVENS: The Ravens stay in Connecticut as they'll take on the Southern Connecticut State Owls on Sunday (3/23) in a doubleheader. First pitch for Game 1 is at noon. Game 2 is slated for 3 p.m.