Kemp clubs home run

TAMPA, Fla. (March 20, 2012) – Graduate student center fielder James Roche (Arlington, Mass.) clubbed two doubles and drove in a run in a 3-for-5 performance on Tuesday evening, but the Franklin Pierce University baseball team suffered a 7-6 loss to No. 6/8 nationally ranked Tampa at University of Tampa Baseball Field. Junior shortstop Dan Kemp (Sturbridge, Mass.) hit a two-run home run in the loss for the Ravens.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 10-7 (0-0 Northeast-10), while Tampa improves to 19-5 (2-4 Sunshine State).

The Ravens opened the scoring with a run in the top of the second inning. Sophomore first baseman Zach Mathieu (Derry, N.H.) led off with a single to right-center field and moved around to third two batters later when junior right fielder Nick LaCroix (Grafton, Mass.) pulled a double down the left-field line. Junior third baseman Anthony Peguero (Hyde Park, Mass.) followed with a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in the run.

Franklin Pierce added a run in the top of the third to extend the lead to 2-0. Freshman left fielder R.J. Going (Bay Shore, N.Y.) opened the inning by pulling a double down the line in left and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by senior second baseman Dan Hennigan (Downingtown, Pa.). Two batters later, Roche bounced a single through the left side of the infield to drive home Going.

Tampa responded with four runs in the bottom of the fourth to jump to a 4-2 lead. Senior second baseman Eric Grabe started things with a two-out double to left-center field and senior left fielder Andrew Jones worked a walk to put runners at first and second. Junior first baseman Jake Schrader followed with an RBI single to right field, plating Grabe, and senior pinch hitter Heath Pritchard clubbed a three-run home run, his second of the season, to right field to give the Spartans the lead.

Franklin Pierce immediately came up with two runs in the top of the fifth to tie the game at 4-4. With two outs, Hennigan poked a single to right and then Kemp launched a two-run home run, his second of the season, to left field.

Tampa picked up single runs in the bottom of the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to open up a 7-4 lead it would not relinquish. In the sixth, Jones reached on an error, moved to second on a single by Schrader, went to third on a sacrifice bunt and eventually scored on an RBI single through the left side by sophomore outfielder Connor Obrochta. In the seventh, junior shortstop Anthony Caronia led off with a bunt single and eventually scored from third on a sacrifice fly by Grabe. In the eighth, freshman right fielder Stephen Dezzi reached on an error, stole second, stole third and scored on a wild pitch.

Franklin Pierce picked up a pair of runs in the top of the ninth inning to create the 7-6 final, but could get no closer. Going led off with a single and moved around to third on a double down the left-field line by Hennigan. Kemp followed with an RBI groundout to score Going, while Roche then dropped a double inside the right-field line. Hennigan had to hold up on the play to make sure it wasn't caught, and thus had to stop at third. He would later score on an RBI groundout by Mathieu to close the scoring.

Sophomore right-hander Ryan Leach (Farmingdale, Maine) started on the mound and suffered his first loss of the season (4-1) for Franklin Pierce. Over 5.1 innings, he allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits, walked one, hit a batter and struck out one.

Junior left-hander Eric Luksis started and did not factor in the decision for Tampa. Over 4.2 innings, he was touched for four runs on six hits and did not record a walk or a strikeout. Senior right-hander Evan Stobbs picked up the win (2-0) out of the bullpen for the Spartans. Over 1.2 perfect innings of work, he struck out one. Sophomore right-hander Preston Packrall pitched the final two innings, allowed two runs on four hits and earned his second save of the season.

The Ravens return to the field on Wednesday, March 21, when they travel to Lynn for a non-conference contest. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at McCusker Sports Complex in Boca Raton, Fla. Franklin Pierce's home opener is scheduled for Tuesday, April 3 against Southern New Hampshire at 3:30 p.m.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics).