RINDGE, N.H. (5/23/25) – Despite leading by as many as five runs and holding an 8-5 advantage heading into the final two innings, the Ravens saw their hopes of a Game 1 victory dashed in walk-off fashion, as Felician rallied late to steal a 9-8 win on Friday afternoon at Pappas Field.

Final Score: Felician 9, Franklin Pierce 8 
Records: Felician (41-19), Franklin Pierce (34-20) 
Location: Pappas Field, Rindge, N.H. 
Event: NCAA East Super Regional – Game 1 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Franklin Pierce came out hot, scoring twice in the first inning. Ivan Arias opened the scoring by coming home on a groundout by Anthony Marcano, and Kiobel Lugo followed with an RBI double to bring in Michael Quiros. 

• The Ravens added two more in the second, with Joey Acker singling in a run and Arias driving in another on a fielder's choice for a 4-0 lead. After Felician responded with a two-run homer by Haiden Walters in the fourth, Franklin Pierce pushed their lead back to five with a three-run sixth. Curt Boyd doubled down the left field line to plate one, Acker added an RBI single, and Arias capped the frame with an RBI single of his own. 

• The Golden Falcons, however, wouldn't go quietly. In the bottom of the sixth, Luis DeLaCruz launched a three-run home run to narrow the gap to 7-5. The Ravens added what looked to be a crucial insurance run in the seventh on a sac fly by Nolan DeAndrade. 

• But Felician clawed their way back in the eighth, tallying two runs on RBI singles from Anthony Lamar and Andrew DeAngelis to make it a one-run game. Then, in the bottom of the ninth, Felician completed the comeback. After a leadoff double and a walk, pinch-hitter Neisser Sanchez reached on a throwing error by the pitcher, allowing both runners to score and sealing a stunning 9-8 walk-off win for the Golden Falcons.  

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS 

• Both teams tallied nine hits. 

• Franklin Pierce committed four costly errors, including the decisive miscue in the ninth. 

• Arias, Acker, Lugo, Boyd, and DeAndrade each drove in runs for the Ravens. 

• Starter Dante DeLucia went 5.2 innings for Franklin Pierce, allowing five runs (three earned). Nick Pavia took the loss after allowing four runs (two earned) over the final 2.1 innings. 

UP NEXT FOR THE RAVENS: Franklin Pierce and Felician will square off again tomorrow (Saturday, May 24) at 1 p.m. back at Pappas Field. The Ravens must win to force a decisive Game 3, with the winner of the series advancing to the NCAA Division II World Series in Cary, North Carolina.