Dowd clubs two-run home run in sixth

Box Score

RINDGE, N.H. (April 6, 2010) – Senior right fielder Phil Hendricks (Pittsfield, Maine) hit a two-run single to center field as part of a five-run seventh inning on Tuesday afternoon as the Franklin Pierce University baseball team broke a 2-2 tie and came away with a 7-3 victory over Merrimack in Northeast-10 Conference play at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field. Sophomore catcher Mike Dowd (East Bridgewater, Mass.) hit a two-run home run in the win for Franklin Pierce.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 19-10 (7-4 Northeast-10), while Merrimack falls to 9-7 (5-5 Northeast-10) with the loss.

After five scoreless innings, Merrimack opened the scoring with two runs in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, freshman left fielder Mark O'Flynn reached on an infield single off the glove of the pitcher and moved to second when senior shortstop Brendan Pyburn followed and lined a single into left field. Both would score two batters later when sophomore centerfielder Tim Curran turned on a pitch and clubbed a two-run double into the gap. Curran was thrown out at third on a relay by Franklin Pierce junior second baseman Jose Macias (Bronx, N.Y.) to end the inning.

Franklin Pierce quickly answered with two runs of its own in the home half of the sixth to tie the score at 2-2. Senior second baseman Cody Kauffman (Blue Bell, Pa.) reached on a throwing error by Pyburn at short. Dowd followed with his team-winning fifth home run of the season, a two-run, game-tying shot to left field.

The Ravens then put together five runs in the bottom of the seventh to open up a 7-2 lead. Sophomore designated hitter Tim Quinn (Paxton, Mass.) led off the inning with an opposite-field home run to right, his second of the season. Later in the inning, Hendricks hit a two-run single to center field, while junior left fielder Mike Munoz (Bronx, N.Y.) drove in a run as well with a groundball which turned into a fielding error for Merrimack.

Merrimack created the 7-3 final with a run in the top of the eighth. Sophomore right fielder PJ Farnham led off with a walk and later scored on a double into the left-center field gap by Pyburn.

Senior right-hander Heath Wasylow (Rehoboth, Mass.) started on the mound, but did not factor in the decision for Franklin Pierce. Over 6.1 innings, he allowed two runs on eight hits, did not issue a walk and struck out seven. Junior right-hander Rob Nicholas (Southborough, Mass.) picked up the win (3-0) out of the bullpen for the Ravens. Over 2.2 innings of relief, he allowed one run on one hit, walked one and struck out four.

Senior left-hander Dylan Ellis started on the rubber and took the loss (3-2) for Merrimack. In six innings of work, he allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits, walked one and struck out three.

The Ravens return to the field on Thursday, April 8, when they make the return trip to Merrimack for a Northeast-10 Conference contest. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Warrior Baseball Diamond in North Andover, Mass. Franklin Pierce next plays at home on Saturday, April 10, when it hosts American International in a doubleheader at noon.