RINDGE, N.H. (April 13, 2016) – The pitching staff of the No. 3/4 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University baseball team piled up 17 strikeouts on Wednesday night, but also issued five wild pitches, four hit batsmen and three walks to go with three passed balls on the receiving end, as the Ravens dropped a 5-3 decision to No. 6/8 Southern New Hampshire. Graduate student right fielder Ryan Gendron had a two-run single in the top of the third to key the SNHU offense at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field, as the Penmen leveled the season series between the two regional powers at 1-1.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 28-4 (10-2 Northeast-10, 5-1 Northeast Division), while SNHU improves to 27-3 (12-1 Northeast-10, 6-1 Northeast Division). The two will meet for the rubber game of the regular-season series on Wednesday, April 27 at SNHU.

Southern New Hampshire opened the scoring with a trio of runs in the top of the third inning. Things started with one out, as junior third baseman Zach Goldstein was hit by a pitch. Goldstein was in motion five pitches later and able to go first-to-third when junior shortstop Manny Cruz shattered his bat while dumping a hit-and-run single into right-center field. Graduate student second baseman Mike Mastroberti was next and laced a first-pitch RBI single into center field to score Goldstein. Later, after a passed ball moved the runners to second and third, Gendron pulled the sixth pitch of his at-bat through the left side of the infield for a two-run single to make it 3-0.

The Penmen added an unearned run in the top of the fourth inning to make it 4-0. Sophomore designated hitter Matt Rabbito led off and hit a routine ground ball on the right side of the infield, but reached at first as junior second baseman Kyle Hood (Arlington, Mass.) mishandled the ball. Rabbito moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored two batters later on an RBI single into right-center by Goldstein.

Franklin Pierce got on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut the gap to 4-1. With one out, Hood worked a six-pitch walk, took both second and third on wild pitches and scored on an RBI single back through the middle by senior center fielder Maxx Sheehan (San Jose, Calif.).

SNHU tacked on what would stand as an important insurance run in the top of the seventh inning. Cruz walked on five pitches leading off and moved to second when Mastroberti was hit by a pitch. After a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third, Cruz would score on a passed ball.

Franklin Pierce loaded the bases without scoring in the seventh before picking up two runs in the bottom of the ninth to create the 5-3 final. Senior right fielder Max DiTondo (Marshfield, Mass.) started things with a two-out single to right field. Sophomore catcher Christopher Stanford (Quebec City, Quebec) followed and hammered a 1-0 pitch an estimated 375 feet to left-center field for a two-run home run, his first of the season. The Ravens would get the tying run to the plate in the form of Sheehan, but he would strike out on four pitches without swinging the bat to end the game.

Senior right-hander Paul Covelle (Medford, Mass.) started for Franklin Pierce, but was not long for the game, as he needed 75 pitches (49 strikes) to find his way through 3.2 innings. He allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits, walked one, hit a batter, threw two wild pitches and struck out six while taking the loss (6-1).

Senior left-hander Tim Viehoff (7-0) took the ball and threw 90 pitches (49 strikes) over 5.2 innings on the hill for SNHU. He surrendered one run on two hits, walked three, threw two wild pitches and struck out six on the way to the win. Sophomore right-hander Jake Walkinshaw powered through the next three innings, but ran out of steam at the end, as sophomore right-hander Ivon Clough came on and struck out the only batter he faced to end the game and earn his first save of the season.

The Ravens return to the field on Saturday, April 16, when they remain home to host Bentley in a Northeast-10 Conference, Northeast Division doubleheader. First pitch is set for noon 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).