Ravens score four in ninth to turn 2-1 deficit into 5-2 win

Box Score

RINDGE, N.H. (March 31, 2010) – Freshman center fielder Nick LaCroix (Grafton, Mass.) hit a bases-loaded, two-run, go-ahead double in the top of the ninth inning on Wednesday afternoon to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead and lead the No. 19 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University baseball team to a 5-2 victory over Bentley in Northeast-10 Conference play at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field. Senior second baseman Cody Kauffman (Blue Bell, Pa.) went 3-for-5 in his first appearance at the top of the order for Franklin Pierce.

With the victory, Franklin Pierce improves to 14-8 (4-2 Northeast-10), while Bentley falls to 11-13 (6-3 Northeast-10). The game was originally scheduled to be played at Bentley and was moved to Rindge due to unplayable field conditions in Waltham, Mass. Bentley served as the home team for the game and batted in the bottom half of each inning.

The win marked the 400th in the career of Franklin Pierce Head Coach Jayson King. King won 21 games over two seasons at Massachusetts Boston to start his career. Now in his 12th season at Franklin Pierce, this was his 379th win as a Raven.

Bentley opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. Sophomore shortstop Vinnie Eruzione led off with a single to right field and moved to second two batters later when senior second baseman Charlie Pagliarulo worked a walk. Two batters later, junior designated hitter Chris Hardy poked a double inside third base and down the left-field line to drive home Eruzione. Pagliarulo would also score on an error on the play, as Franklin Pierce junior left fielder Mike Munoz (Bronx, N.Y.) failed to corral the ball in the corner.

Franklin Pierce cut the lead in half with a run of its own in the top of the fourth inning. Kauffman, newly inserted in the leadoff spot, got the inning started as he dumped a single into right. Three batters later, while running on first movement, the pitcher threw behind him at first, but Kauffman stole second anyway. He then scored from second on an RBI single back through the middle by Munoz.

The score would remain 2-1 until the top of the ninth inning, when Franklin Pierce would surge to a 5-2 lead with four runs. With one out, Munoz started things off with a single back through the middle and runners were quickly at first and second as sophomore designated hitter Tim Quinn (Paxton, Mass.) followed with a single up the middle of his own that chased the Bentley starter, freshman right-hander John Yohe, from the game. Senior right fielder Phil Hendricks (Pittsfield, Maine) greeted senior right-hander Dean Sandonato with a single into right field to load the bases. That brought LaCroix to the plate, and he delivered a two-run double over the head of the center fielder to drive home Quinn and Munoz. Junior pinch hitter Eric Pearson (Webster, N.H.) finished off the four-run inning with a sacrifice fly to center that scored Hendricks.

Junior right-hander Rob Nicholas (Southborough, Mass.) allowed a single to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning, but struck out the next three batters to end the game.

Junior right-hander Jose Macias (Bronx, N.Y.) started on the mound for Franklin Pierce, pitched seven innings and did not factor in the decision. He surrendered two runs on six hits, walked two and struck out nine. Graduate student right-hander Mike Adams (Orchard Park, N.Y.) pitched the eighth inning out of the bullpen and walked two, but did not allow a hit or a run and picked up the win (5-0) when the Ravens rallied in the ninth. Nicholas notched his fifth save of the season in the ninth.

Yohe started on the hill for Bentley and pitched eight solid innings, but took the loss (1-4). Over 8.1 innings, he allowed three runs on seven hits, walked one and struck out three. Yohe left with a 2-1 lead, but was responsible for two runners on base, both of which scored when Sandonato entered and surrendered back-to-back hits.

The Ravens return to the field on Thursday, April 1, when they remain home to host Saint Michael's in a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field. The teams will play one nine-inning contest, followed by a seven-inning game.