Hawks rap White for seven runs in game one; Weagle pitches Ravens to victory in nightcap

RINDGE, N.H. (April 28, 2003) - Franklin Pierce, ranked fifth in the most recent NCAA Division II Northeast Regional rankings, was forced to settle for a split with No. 6 Saint Anselm College in Northeast-10 Conference baseball action at Crystal Field this afternoon.

In game one, Saint Anselm scored five unanswered runs over the final two innings after Franklin Pierce had rallied to take a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the seventh.

Sophomore Keith Beauregard led the Hawks offense as he hit 4-for-5 with a double, a home run, three runs scored and an RBI. Junior Keith Morrell was 2-4 with two RBI, while senior A.J. Fradette finished 2-5 with a pair of runs scored.

Sophomore right-hander Ryan Fecteau picked up the win (3-1) as he allowed three earned runs on ten hits with five strikeouts and three walks in the complete game effort.

Junior Dante Blancarte (Amesbury, Mass./Amesbury) continued to swing a hot bat for Franklin Pierce. He hit 3-5 with a double, a homer and two RBI. Freshman Mike Chambers (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) was 2-3, while senior Dan Close (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) was 2-4 with a steal and an RBI.

Senior Jon White (Medford, Mass./Arlington Catholic) was touched for seven earned runs on 11 hits with three strikeouts and two walks in 8.1 innings of work.

Saint Anselm held a 2-1 lead in the seventh after scoring a pair in the fourth. The Ravens regained the lead when Blancarte roped his third home run of the season over the rightfield fence.

The Hawks answered with four runs in the eighth. Morrell and freshman Jerod Edmondson each laced RBI singles in the rally, while Edmondson also scored on a balk.

Franklin Pierce threatened in the bottom of the frame, but left the bases loaded. The Hawks tacked on an insurance run with Beauregard's second homer of the season in the ninth.

BOX SCORE

Batteries:
SAC - Ryan Fecteau and Anthony Modoono
FP - Jon White, Jake Tenney (9) and Eric Cavers

WP: Fecteau (3-1)
LP: White (4-3)
HR: Beauregard (2); Blancarte (3).

In the nightcap, Franklin Pierce got another strong outing from junior right-handerMatt Weagle (Charlton, Mass./Shephard Hill) and coasted to a 7-1 victory.

Weagle improved to 6-1 on the season, matching his personal best for wins in a season set as a freshman when he posted an identical 6-1 mark, as he allowed an earned run on six hits with eight strikeouts and two walks in the seven-inning complete game effort.

Freshman Shawn Hayes (Charlton, Mass./Holy Name) led the offense, hitting 2-3 with a double, a steal, two runs scored and an RBI. ClassmateElliott Shea (Jaffrey, N.H./Conant) hit 1-2 with a double, run scored and two RBI.

No Saint Anselm hitters registered multiple hits in the game. Morrell drove in the Hawks lone run and stole a base, while Edmondson and freshman Nick Cavaioli each also finished 1-3. Freshman Jack Mulcahy suffered the loss (0-1), as he was touched for five earned runs on three hits with two walks and a strikeout in 1.1 innings of work.

Franklin Pierce scored all the runs they would need with a five-run second. Shea drilled an RBI double down the left field line that one-hopped the fence, then scored on an RBI single from Hayes. Freshman Steve Stanley drove in a run on a fielder's choice, and then Hayes scored on a double steal with Stanley for the final run of the inning. 

 BOX SCORE

Batteries:
FP - Matt Weagle and Eric Cavers
SAC - Jack Mulcahy, Mike Belleau (2), Steve Kearney (5), Andy Rosenwinkel (6)

WP: Weagle (6-1)
LP: Mulcahy (0-1)

Franklin Pierce (19-12, 12-8 NE-10) returns to action on Wednesday for a key NE-10 Markey Division match up with Assumption College at home at 3:30 p.m. Saint Anselm (19-15, 14-6 NE-10) hosts Southern New Hampshire University tomorrow at 3:30 p.m.