Grabowski, Ravens end Spartans 18-game winning streak, post first win over top-ranked team in program history

TAMPA, Fla. (March 22, 2005) - Franklin Pierce, receiving votes in both this week's Collegiate Baseball magazine and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Division II polls, stunned consensus No. 1-ranked University of Tampa, 4-1, in non-conference baseball action at Sam Bailey Field tonight.

The win is the first for Franklin Pierce in program history against a top-ranked team as the Ravens exacted some revenge for an 18-9 setback to Tampa in the semifinals of the 2003 NCAA Division II College World Series. The Ravens also put an end to the Spartans 18-game win streak dating back to a 6-2 setback in game one of a doubleheader against Valdosta State on February 19.

"We were ready to play tonight," said seventh-year head coach Jayson King. "I'm proud of how the team performed, they wanted (the win) bad and it showed."       

Sophomore right-hander Eric Grabowski (Worcester, Mass./David Prouty), a transfer from Saint John's University, kept the Spartan bats in check holding them hitless through four and a third. Grabowski went the distance and yielded just an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth on four hits with eight strikeouts and two walks. He held Tampa's top five batters in the order to a combined 1-for-19 on the night.

"Eric was confident on the mound," said King. "He was great and executed the game plan to perfection."

Franklin Pierce did all of its damage offensively in a four-run fourth. Junior Elliott Shea (Jaffrey, N.H./Conant) led off with a double and stole third, before classmate Mike Chambers (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) belted his first home run of the season.

The Ravens weren't finished as junior Shawn Hayes (Charlton, Mass./Holy Name) followed with a double and classmate Bryan Duplissie (East Swanzey, N.H./Monadnock Regional) smacked his third homer in the last two days to put his team up 4-0 before the Spartans had registered an out.

Hayes finished the night 3-for-4 with a double, run scored and stolen base, while sophomore Vinny Pennell (Spencer, Mass./David Prouty) was 2-4. Chambers was 1-3 with the homer and two RBI, while Duplissie hit 1-4 with a homer and two RBI.

"We came out just wanting to play nine solid innings," said King. "We weren't worried about getting ahead or anything like that. We were able to scout (Tampa) earlier in the week and got a good sense of their team and had a good plan."        

Tampa scratched a run across in the bottom of the ninth after junior Lee Cruz (Pasco, Fla./Pasco Hernando CC) reached on an error to start the inning and scored on an RBI single from freshman T.J. Alonzo (Tampa, Fla./Hillsborough) with two out.

Alonzo led all Spartan batters, as he was 2-3, while Cruz finished 1-4. Junior J.R. Hopf (Tampa, Fla./Lenoir-Rhyne College) registered a pinch-hit single in his lone at-bat.

Freshman right-hander Michael Harley (Tampa, Fla./Alonso) suffered the loss (2-2) as he yielded the four earned runs on seven hits and two walks with six strikeouts in six innings of work.

Franklin Pierce (4-2, 0-2 NE-10) returns to action tomorrow when it travels to Melbourne, Fla., to face Florida Tech at 3 p.m. Tampa (25-4) travels to No. 27 Barry University to begin a three-game set on Friday at 6 p.m.
 

Batteries:
FP - Eric Grabowski and Steve Carr.
UT - Michael Harley, Chris Whitney (7), Aaron Cook (9) and Scott Leffler, J.R. Hopf (8).  

WP: Grabowski (1-0)
LP: Harley (2-2)
HR: Chambers (1), Duplissie (3).