Ravens hit two home runs in each game

RINDGE, N.H. (April 4, 2015) – Sophomore third baseman Jay Jabs (Schwenksville, Pa.) hit a pair of home runs and junior right-hander Miles Sheehan (Madison, Conn.) struck out eight over eight shutout innings in the second game on Saturday, as the No. 5/5 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University baseman team used a 5-0 win to complete a three-game series sweep of Stonehill in Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division play at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field. Earlier in the day, junior first baseman Matt O'Herron (Springfield, Mass.) and junior shortstop Justin Brock (Latham, N.Y.) each hit home runs to lead a 10-hit attack in a 15-2 Ravens win.

With the wins, Franklin Pierce improves to 26-2 (8-1 Northeast-10, 6-1 Northeast Division) and has now won seven in a row, while Stonehill falls to 15-7-1 (3-3 Northeast-10, 3-3 Northeast Division).

In the first game, Franklin Pierce opened the scoring with three runs in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back. With one out, Jabs hit a double down the left-field line and moved to third on a wild pitch before senior right fielder John Razzino (Cranston, R.I.) walked and stole second. Another wild pitch scored Jabs and moved Razzino to third, before senior catcher Matt Walsh (Plymouth, Mass.) worked a walk as well. O'Herron followed with an RBI single to center to drive in Razzino, while Walsh went to third and then scored on an RBI groundout by sophomore designated hitter Chris LaVorgna (North Haven, Conn.).

Franklin Pierce pushed the lead to 4-0 with an unearned run in the bottom of the third. With one out, Razzino was hit by a pitch, took second on an errant pickoff throw and then stole both third and home.

Two more runs for the Ravens in the bottom of the fourth stretched the lead to 6-0. LaVorgna opened the inning with a single back through the middle, stole second and moved to third on a flyout. After a walk to junior left fielder Kurtis White (Nahant, Mass.), LaVorgna would come in to score while Brock reached on an error. Meanwhile, White went to second on a passed ball, stole third and scored on an RBI groundout by junior center fielder Maxx Sheehan (San Jose, Calif.).

Stonehill closed the gap to 6-1 with an unearned run in the top half of the fifth inning. With two outs, junior designated hitter Brian Hocking doubled down the left-field line, moved to third as sophomore right fielder Ben Monte reached on an error and scored on an RBI single through the right side by junior center fielder Chris Hoyt.

Franklin Pierce broke the game wide open with five runs in the home half of the fifth to make it an 11-1 game. Brock had the big blow of the inning with a two-run double to right field, while O'Herron hit a solo home run the other way to right and Maxx Sheehan had an RBI double to left.

The Ravens tacked on three more in the bottom of the sixth and one in the bottom of the seventh, while Stonehill plated a run in the top of the seventh to create the 15-2 final. For Franklin Pierce, LaVorgna had an RBI single and sophomore second baseman Kyle Hood (Arlington, Mass.) bounced into an RBI fielder's choice, while Brock hit an inside-the-park, solo home run to center leading off the seventh. For Stonehill, Hocking homered just to the left of straightaway center leading off the top of the seventh.

Senior right-hander Brendan O'Rourke (Shrewsbury, Mass.) threw 99 pitches (57 strikes) over six innings of work on the mound for Franklin Pierce. He allowed one unearned run on four hits, walked three, hit a batter and struck out five on the way to the win (7-0).

Junior right-hander Neal Horan got the start for Stonehill and threw 65 pitches (38 strikes) before leaving after four innings. He was ultimately charged with six runs (four earned) on three hits, walked three, hit one, threw three wild pitches and struck out three while taking the loss (0-2).

In the second game, Franklin Pierce opened the scoring with an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Jabs singled back through the middle, and Monte misplayed the ball in center, which allowed Jabs to advance to second. Jabs then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on an RBI single through the right side by Walsh.

The Ravens added two more runs in the bottom of the third to push the lead to 3-0. With one out, Maxx Sheehan hit a pop up over the middle of the infield, which was dropped by Hoyt at second base. Jabs followed with a two-run home run -- his seventh of the season -- of an estimated 360 feet to straightaway right.

Single runs for the Ravens in the fourth and fifth innings capped the day's scoring and created the 5-0 final. In the fourth, O'Herron singled back through the middle, moved to second on a wild pitch, took third on a passed ball and scored on an RBI single to right by Hood. In the fifth, Jabs clubbed a one-out solo shot an estimated 365 feet to right field, his second of the game.

Miles Sheehan fired 113 pitches (76 strikes) over eight shutout innings for Franklin Pierce in the second game. He allowed four hits, walked one and struck out eight to pick up the win (4-0).

On the other side, sophomore left-hander Jeremy Roberts tossed 86 pitches (56 strikes) over the first five innings on the hill for Stonehill. He allowed five runs (two earned) on eight hits, did not issue a walk, threw one wild pitch and struck out four while taking the loss (1-2).

The Ravens return to the field on Monday, April 6, when they remain home to host Saint Michael's in a Northeast-10 Conference, Northeast Division contest. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. at Pappas Field.

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).