CENTER VALLEY, Pa. (5/17/25) - After stumbling in the series opener, the Franklin Pierce baseball team roared back with an offensive outburst in Game 2 to split Saturday's doubleheader against Jefferson at Weiland Park. The Ravens fell 9-2 in Game 1 before delivering a dominant 22-5 win in the nightcap, forcing a winner-take-all Game 3 in the NCAA East Regional. 

Records: Jefferson (40-16), Franklin Pierce (33-20) 
Location: Weiland Park, Center Valley, Pa.  
Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025  

GAME 1: Jefferson 9, Franklin Pierce 2 

HOW IT HAPPENED  

• Franklin Pierce jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the second when Curt Boyd launched a two-run home run to straightaway center, driving in Nolan DeAndrade to put the Ravens up 2-0. That would be the only offense the Ravens could muster, however, as Jefferson stormed back with nine unanswered runs to take Game 1 of the best-of-three series. 

• Jefferson cracked the scoreboard in the third on a Raven miscue, as an infield error allowed a run to cross and cut the lead to 2-1. The big blow came in the fifth when Thomas Matuszewski drilled a three-run homer to left center, giving Jefferson a 4-2 lead. A two-run single by Justin Egner in the sixth extended the margin, and the Rams broke it wide open in the eighth thanks to a flurry of wild pitches that plated three more runs. By the end of the inning, Jefferson had turned a tight game into a 9-2 rout. 

• The Ravens were limited to just three hits over the final seven innings and couldn't recover as Jefferson's pitching staff settled in and held FPU off the board the rest of the way. 

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS 

• Curt Boyd provided the lone offensive highlight for the Ravens with a two-run homer in the second inning. He also caught all nine innings and threw out one baserunner. 

• Joey Acker reached base twice and recorded one of the team's three hits. 

• Niklas Pavia felt the loss on the mound for the Ravens, throwing 5.1 innings with 12 strikeouts and four earned runs on 26 batters faced.  

GAME 2: Franklin Pierce 22, Jefferson 5 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Franklin Pierce exploded for 22 runs to even the best-of-three series with a commanding win over Jefferson in Game 4. The Ravens wasted no time getting on the board, scoring three in the top of the first, highlighted by a two-run single from Boyd. 

• After Jefferson cut the deficit to 3-1 in the bottom half, Franklin Pierce tacked on two more in the third on a two-run homer by Anthony Marcano. Then came a game-breaking fourth inning, where the Ravens erupted for 10 runs, fueled by five walks, two hit batters, and four hits, including a two-run single from Acker and a two-RBI single by Michael Quiros. By the end of the frame, Franklin Pierce held a 15-1 advantage. 

• The onslaught continued in the middle innings. Boyd crushed a three-run homer in the sixth, and DeAndrade followed with a solo shot to stretch the lead to 21-4. Acker capped Franklin Pierce's scoring with an RBI single in the eighth. 

• Jefferson managed single runs in the fourth and eighth innings, including an RBI single by Will Woodring, but never threatened to close the gap as the Ravens' offense overwhelmed six different Ram pitchers.  

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS  

• Curt Boyd had a monster game, going 2-for-3 with six RBIs, including a three-run homer and a two-run single. He also walked twice and scored three times. 

• Joey Acker was everywhere offensively, finishing 3-for-5 with three RBIs, two walks, and three runs scored. 

• Michael Quiros went 4-for-6 with two RBIs and three runs, anchoring the heart of the order. 

• Kyle Salvati started on the mound and pitched 3.2 innings, allowing four earned runs before Sean Foody came on in relief and shut things down with 5.1 innings of one-run ball to earn the win. 

• The Ravens drew 10 walks, recorded 17 hits, and saw every starting position player score at least once. 

UP NEXT FOR THE RAVENS: With Saturday's resounding Game 2 victory, Franklin Pierce has earned the right to play one more. The Ravens and Rams will return to Weiland Park on Sunday at 12 p.m. for a decisive Game 3, with the winner advancing to the NCAA Division II Super Regional.