Jabs, Razzino score three runs each

YAPHANK, N.Y. (March 7, 2014) – Senior right-hander Joe Flynn (Plymouth, Mass.) piled up a career-best 13 strikeouts over seven innings of three-hit ball on Friday afternoon, while freshman third baseman Jay Jabs (Schwenksville, Pa.) hit his first two collegiate home runs, as the No. 7/12 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University baseball team cruised to a 12-2 win over Queens in non-conference, neutral-site play at Baseball Heaven. Franklin Pierce needed just six hits to plate 12 runs, as Queens pitching issued 10 walks and hit four batters.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 8-2 (0-0 Northeast-10), while Queens opens the season at 0-1 (0-0 East Coast).

Flynn took control from the start on Friday, as he fired 98 pitches to log seven innings of one-run, three-hit ball, which was more than enough with the arsenal of Ravens bats supporting him. Flynn recorded 13 of his 21 outs via the strikeout, a new career best, and issued only a pair of walks. Flynn got better as the afternoon went along, as he struck out the side around a one-out walk in the fourth; the final two strikeouts of the fourth were the first of 11 straight batters Flynn set down to complete his outing. With the big lead already in hand, he capped his day by striking out the side in order in both the sixth and seventh innings to finish off his second win of the season (2-1).

Franklin Pierce opened the scoring with four runs on just one hit in the top of the first and never looked back, as it capitalized on the control issues of Queens' starting pitcher, sophomore right-hander John Dondero. Senior center fielder Calvin Graves (Boston, Mass.) opened the game with a walk, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Behind him, junior right fielder John Razzino (Cranston, R.I.) walked as well and stole second. Junior catcher Matt Walsh (Plymouth, Mass.) followed with a grounder on the left side which scored Graves, but also saw Razzino erased at third base while Walsh reached on a fielder's choice. Walsh moved to second on a passed ball and then took third on a wild pitch before sophomore first baseman Matt O'Herron (Springfield, Mass.) walked and stole second and Jabs took the fourth walk of the inning to load the bases with one away. Senior designated hitter Marty Dunlap (Dorchester, Mass.) was next and cracked a two-run double down the left-field line to drive home Walsh and O'Herron. The two-bagger also pushed Jabs around to third, setting up his steal of home to cap the inning's scoring.

Queens got one run back in the bottom of the second to cut the lead to 4-1. With two outs, junior shortstop David Velazquez doubled down the left-field line and scored when junior catcher C.J. Gerdowsky followed with an RBI double into the gap in right-center.

The Ravens answered with a run in the top of the third to push the lead back to four runs at 5-1. Jabs led off the inning with his first collegiate home run, a solo shot to right field.

Two more runs in the top of the fourth broke the game open and stretched the lead to 7-1. Razzino led off with an infield single to shortstop, stole second and moved to third on a flyout down the right-field line by Walsh. O'Herron followed, dropped down a squeeze bunt, picked up the RBI and was thrown out at first on the sacrifice as Razzino scored. Jabs was next and launched his second home run in as many innings, another solo shot to right field.

Franklin Pierce tacked on another run in the top of the sixth to make it 8-1. With one out, Razzino walked, stole second, stole third and scored on an RBI groundout by Walsh.

Four more runs in the eighth gave the Ravens a 12-1 advantage. In the inning, Razzino had an RBI single through the left side of the infield, Walsh drove in his third run of the day with a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch, junior first baseman Bryan Dionicio (West Hartford, Conn.) had an RBI sacrifice fly and Jabs picked up his third RBI of the day with a groundout.

Queens picked up a run in the bottom of the ninth on an RBI single to right-center by freshman first baseman Joseph Pidoto to create the 12-2 final.

Dondero started on the mound for Queens and pitched just the first inning before being lifted. In the inning, he faced nine batters, threw 57 pitches, was tagged for four runs on one hit, walked five, threw two wild pitches and struck out two. The damage was more than enough to leave Dondero on the hook for the loss (0-1).

The Ravens return to the field on Saturday, March 8, when they travel to Dowling for a non-conference doubleheader to start a four-game weekend series. First pitch is set for noon at Golden Lions Field in Shirley, N.Y.

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). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce baseball apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).