A 40-minute hail delay in the top of the seventh inning gave way to a hail of runs in the seventh and eighth innings on Saturday afternoon, as the No. 3/5 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University baseball team completed a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader sweep of American International with a 9-4 victory. Earlier in the day at Richard F. Bedard Field, the Ravens opened the twinbill with a 7-2 win.
With the wins, Franklin Pierce improves to 24-2 (6-0 Northeast-10) and has won 11 in a row for the second time this year, while American International falls to 6-18 (1-8 Northeast-10).
In the first game, Franklin Pierce took the lead for good with three runs in the top of the third inning. Senior first baseman Matthew O’Herron pulled a single to left leading off, moved to second on a balk and came around to score as sophomore catcher Christopher Stanford reached on an error.
Senior second baseman Kurtis White was hit by a pitch, moved to second as Stanford was caught stealing third and came around to score as senior center fielder Maxx Sheehan reached on an error. Sheehan would score from second as senior shortstop Justin Brock followed and clubbed an RBI double to center field.
Sophomore right-hander Anthony Matarazzo fired 113 pitches (75 strikes) over eight innings on the mound for the Ravens in the first game. He allowed two runs on six hits, walked one, hit a batter and struck out nine to pick up the win (5-0).
In the second game, a double by senior catcher Mike Coyne chased the Franklin Pierce starter, sophomore right-hander John Amendola from the mound after just 3.2 innings. Senior right-hander Tanner Bird took over.
The Ravens rallied for two runs to tie the game at 4-4 in the top of the seventh. With two outs, Brock dropped a bunt single on the left side of the infield, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored when Jabs pulled an RBI double down the right-field line. After the Jabs double, the skies opened up in Springfield, resulting in a 40-minute hail delay with the tying run on second base. After the weather cleared, Jabs moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single through the left side by LaVorgna.
Having survived the hail, Franklin Pierce put forth a barrage of its own in the top of the eighth inning, plating five runs to pull away for the 9-4 victory.
Making his season debut, junior right-hander Dylan Dennisthrew a scoreless, hitless final two innings with one hit batsman, one wild pitch and one strike out to nail down the save.
The Ravens return to the field today when they travel to Saint Anselm. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m. at Sullivan Park in Manchester.