Cummings fires two-hit shutout; Close drives in four to lead Ravens to key victory

RINDGE, N.H. (May 1, 2003) - Franklin Pierce, ranked fourth in this week's NCAA Division II Northeast Regional poll, won the rubber game of its three-game series with College of Saint Rose in convincing fashion with an 11-0 victory in a key Northeast-10 Conference Markey Division battle at Crystal Field this afternoon.

In a battle between the top two pitching staffs in the Conference, Franklin Pierce got a two-hit shutout performance from freshmanTyler Cummings (South Paris, Maine/Oxford Hills) in posting its third-straight victory and ninth over the last 12 games. Cummings (4-4) walked just one and struck out eight over the nine innings. He was perfect through three before Saint Rose sophomore Josh Colafemina broke things up with a single to right center. Cummings carried the one-hitter into the ninth before a pinch-hitter singled up the middle for the Golden Knights only other hit of the afternoon.

Senior Dan Close (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) sparked the offense, which banged out 12 hits off Saint Rose pitching, as he hit 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBI. Sophomore Eric Cavers (Otisfield, Maine/Oxford Hills) was 2-4 with a triple, two runs scored, two RBI and a stolen base. The steal was the 16th of the season (on 17 attempts) for Cavers, which surpasses his own program record of 15 set his freshman year.

Freshman Mike Chambers (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) was 2-4 with a double and an RBI, while junior Dante Blancarte (Amesbury, Mass./Amesbury) drove in a pair of RBI.

Franklin Pierce pinned Saint Rose senior right-hander Chris Wright with his first loss of the season (6-1). Wright, who entered the game with a Conference-low 1.15 earned run average, was touched for six runs, five earned, on five hits and three walks with just one strikeout in three-plus innings of work.

After the Ravens had their potential first run of the game thrown out at the plate in the first, they plated a single run in the second to open the scoring. Freshman Nick Panza (Albany, N.Y./Colonie Central) drove in the run with a sacrifice fly to left.

Franklin Pierce plated three runs in the third, sparked by a two-run bomb off the bat of Close to left center. Chambers later drove in senior Mike Callahan (Worcester, Mass./St. Peter Marian) with a single.

The Ravens busted the game open with a pair of runs each in the fourth and fifth. Blancarte registered a two-run single in the fourth and Cavers roped a two-run triple in the fifth. Franklin Pierce rounded out the scoring with three more runs in the seventh with Close registering a two-run single to right center.

Franklin Pierce (21-12, 14-8 NE-10) returns to action on Saturday when it opens a crucial three-game Markey Division series with Southern Connecticut State University with a doubleheader in New Haven, Conn., beginning at noon. Tomorrow's scheduled non-conference game with Dominican College has been cancelled. Saint Rose (26-12, 16-8 NE-10) hosts Assumption College on Saturday for a doubleheader at noon. 

 BOX SCORE

Batteries:
FP - Tyler Cummings and Eric Cavers
CSR - Wright, Kruset (4), Rodriguez (9) and Burdo

WP: Cummings (4-4)
LP: Wright (6-1)
HR: Close (2)