Weagle leads Ravens to World Series opening victory

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (May 24, 2003) - Franklin Pierce, ranked No. 21 in this week's Collegiate Baseball magazine Division II poll, came from behind to post a 2-1 victory over No. 6 Slippery Rock University in game one of the NCAA Division II College World Series at Paterson Field this afternoon.

Franklin Pierce (31-15) advances to Monday's winner's bracket game against No. 1 Central Missouri State University (48-7) at 7:30 p.m. (ET). The Mules topped No. 13 Grand Valley State (Mich.) University (40-13-1) in Saturday's second game, 3-2. Slippery Rock (48-12) must now come out of the loser's bracket beginning with a game against Grand Valley on Monday at 3:30 p.m. (ET).

"We're obviously happy to get off on the right foot this week," said fifth-year Head Coach Jayson King. "We've been winning a lot of these type of games over the last two weeks."

Franklin Pierce took advantage of a sun-aided double in the bottom of the eighth and rode the right arm of junior Matt Weagle (Charlton, Mass./Shephard Hill) to victory in its first College World Series appearance. The Ravens are now 4-0 in their first NCAA Tournament in program history.

Weagle (9-1) picked up his 13th victory over his last 14 decisions as he allowed just one earned run, scattering six hits with seven strikeouts and two walks in his program record-matching seventh complete game of the season, which also matches the career mark of 17.

"I was a little nervous in the first inning," said Weagle. "But once I got through that inning, I felt pretty confident I could handle them for the full nine."

Franklin Pierce plated the winning run in the eighth as sophomore catcher Eric Cavers (Otisfield, Maine/Oxford Hills) benefited from his second sun-aided hit of the day, a double that the Slippery Rock centerfielder misjudged by three feet. Cavers advanced to third on a fly out from senior Paul McAuliffe (Foxboro, Mass./Foxboro) before scoring on a fielder's choice to shortstop by senior Dan Close (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) with two out.

"I just ran out everything I hit today," said Cavers. "It had already happened to me once, so I saw coach (Stan Jurkoic) waving me around first and I knew I had a chance at a double."

Cavers singled earlier in the game when what appeared to be a routine pop out to shortstop dropped into the infield grass. He finished 2-for-4 for the game with the lone run scored.

McAuliffe sparked the Ravens in the sixth as he belted the first pitch of the frame over the left-centerfield wall for his team-leading fifth home run of the season to knot the score at 1-1.

"I knew we needed a spark," said McAuliffe. "I'm an aggressive hitter and I just went up there looking to hit a double and he put a fastball in my wheelhouse and I got a good swing on it."

While Cavers was the lone Raven with multiple hits, seniorMike Callahan (Worcester, Mass./St. Peter Marian) finished 1-2 and freshman Mike Chambers (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) chipped in with a double.

Junior left-hander Steve Norris (Clearfield, Pa.) suffered his first loss of the season (10-1) in a hard-luck effort. He allowed two earned runs, scattering six hits (the two sun-aided hits, plus one on a collision between the shortstop and leftfielder) and one walk with four strikeouts.

Sophomore Chase Rowe (Saxonburg, Pa.) hit 2-3 for Slippery Rock, while senior Alan Reichl (Pittsburgh, Pa.) was 2-4 with a double and run scored. His double was just the third extra-base hit (first double) Weagle has allowed this season, the first since a triple at American International College on April 23.

Slippery Rock took the first lead of the World Series in the fourth. Reichl doubled to lead off the frame and then advanced to third when Weagle was called for a balk. Sophomore Bill Wolfe (Franklin, Pa.) drove him in with a sacrifice fly.

"Two things were key for us today," said King. "Paul's home run really got us settled offensively and two, Dan Close made a great throw from rightfield to keep the score at 1-0 and I think was a big momentum shift because I felt (Slippery Rock) was a little down after that."

Close gunned senior Brandon Stewart (Plum Borough, Pa.) down at the plate for the second out of the fourth inning after a Ben Marzullo (Brookville, Pa.) single through the right side. Weagle then retired the next batter on a liner to third to hold The Rock to just one run in the frame.

 BOX SCORE

Batteries:
FP -Matt Weagle (9) and Eric Cavers.
SRU - Steve Norris, Dave Sansom (8) and Luke Mollis.

WP: Weagle (9-1)
LP: Norris (10-1)

HR: FP, Paul McAuliffe (5).