Savastano 4-for-4 as Ravens avoid back-to-back losses with four
late runs
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.
(March 24, 2006) - Franklin Pierce, ranked No. 7 in this
week's Collegiate Baseball magazine Division II Coaches'
poll, took the lead with two runs in the eighth and added two
insurance run in the ninth to collect a 9-5 victory at Nova
Southeastern University, receiving votes in this week's coaches'
poll, at NSU Baseball Complex tonight.
Franklin Pierce again avoided
back-to-back losses for the first time this season, rebounding from
its worst loss in almost three years with a strong performance
tonight. The Ravens jumped out to a 4-0 lead and held a 5-1
advantage after four innings. Nova Southeastern rallied to knot the
score at 5-5 in the sixth before the Ravens scored four runs over
the final two innings to collect the win.
Freshman Scott
Savastano (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth North) continued
his hot hitting, as he was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate to extend
his current hitting streak to 11 games. He registered a double,
three runs scored, two stolen bases and an RBI, while junior
All-American Garrett Olson (Norway, Maine/Oxford
Hills) was 3-5 with three RBI. Junior Kim
Hart (Gorham, Maine/Gorham) rounded out the Ravens
with multiple hits, going 2-4 with a home run and two RBI. Senior
Randy Fenton (Worcester, Mass./Doherty)
also belted a
homer.
Junior right-hander
Arric Mather (Danville, N.H./Winnacunnet)
picked up his third win of the trip (3-0) with another strong
relief outing. He allowed just an earned run on two hits with five
strikeouts and no walks over the final 4.1 innings and retired 11
of the last 12 batters he faced.
Senior Brian Ikalina
(Sunrise, Fla.) led Nova Southeastern as he hit
2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. Junior Shawn
Langlois (West Palm Beach, Fla.) was the only other
Shark with multiple hits, finishing 2-5 with a run scored, while
senior Sean McFadden (Hollywood,
Fla./Chaminade-Madonna) was 1-4 with an RBI.
Junior Ross Cummings
(Jupiter, Fla./Palm Beach Dwyer) took the loss as he
was hit for four earned runs on five hits with a strikeout in two
innings of relief. NSU starter Lou Leo (West Palm
Beach, Fla./American Heritage Delray) allowed five
earned runs on eight hits and three walks with two strikeouts over
the first 6.1 innings.
Franklin Pierce jumped on the board
with four runs in the second. Hart sparked the inning with a
two-run homer. Junior Vinny Pennell (Spencer,
Mass./David Prouty) reached with a bunt single, then
stole second and scored on Savastano's double down the rightfield
line. Olson brought home Savastano with a single to
left.
Nova Southeastern got a run back in
the third with an RBI single from McFadden, but the Ravens answered
in the fourth with a solo homer from Fenton with two outs. The
Sharks pulled within a run in the fifth thanks to Ikalina's
three-run homer to right with one out. NSU knotted the score in the
sixth when sophomore Matt Mindick (Boynton Beach,
Fla./American Heritage Delray) tripled to center with
one out and later scored on a wild pitch.
Franklin Pierce regained the lead
in the eighth as Savastano led off with a single, stole second and
scored on a double to right from sophomore Matt
Anderson (Medford, Mass./Medford). Anderson scored
two batters later on a two-out single through the right side by
senior Elliott Shea (Jaffrey,
N.H./Conant). The Ravens added two insurance runs in
the ninth as Olson delivered a two-run single to right with the
bases loaded and two out.
Franklin Pierce (14-3, 0-0 NE-10)
and Nova Southeastern (18-10, 3-3 SSC) round out their three-game
weekend series with a doubleheader tomorrow at 1 p.m.
Boxscore
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