GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (May 17, 2019) – Six runs through the first five innings allowed fifth-seeded NYIT to build up a 6-0 lead in a winner's bracket game on Friday morning, at the second day of the NCAA Championship East Regional, hosted by Adelphi University. Meanwhile, the eighth-seeded Franklin Pierce University baseball team left the bases loaded in each of the first two innings and could never cut the gap to fewer than three runs in a 9-3 loss to the Bears at William J. Bonomo Field.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 29-23, and will face elimination later on Friday, at approximately 4 p.m. The Ravens will face the winner of Friday's noon elimination game, which will feature top seed and host Adelphi against fourth-seeded Wilmington (Del.).

With the win, NYIT improves to 34-14 and advances to play in Saturday's final round. The Bears will have two chances to win just one game, in order to advance to next week's East Super Regional. NYIT's opponent will be the winner of Franklin Pierce's game on Friday afternoon.

Franklin Pierce had a great chance to jump out front in the top of the first, but came up empty. A hit batsman, and then back-to-back singles by senior left fielder Brad Roberto (San Diego, Calif.) and junior right fielder John Mead (Washington Township, N.J.) loaded the bases with one out. However, NYIT junior left-hander Joseph Murphy was able to work out of the jam, by recording back-to-back swinging strikeouts of senior designated hitter Ural Forbes (Freeport, Bahamas) and freshman third baseman Jethro Hurt (New York, N.Y.).

NYIT turned around and capitalized on its own first-inning chance, as the Bears sent eight men to the plate and scored three times. A single through the left side by junior shortstop Ben McNeill, a walk to junior center fielder John LaRocca and an RBI single to left by freshman right fielder EJ Cumbo quickly struck for one run, before senior right-hander Zach Hart (Wallingford, Conn.) could even get settled in on the mound. Hart then got back-to-back strikeouts, but NYIT did more damage with two outs. Junior third baseman Brendan Dowd provided a two-strike single back up the middle to drive home LaRocca, while Cumbo scored on a first-pitch, check-swing single into no man's land up the third-base line by freshman catcher Matt Malone.

Franklin Pierce again loaded the bases in the top of the second, but again came up empty. It was runners at second and third with one out, but Murphy struck out freshman center fielder Joel Lara (Boston, Mass.) on six pitches for the second out. After a walk loaded the bases, Murphy got Roberto to pop up to the shortstop behind second base to strand the bases full. The six left on base through two innings were part of a game where the Ravens left 11 men on base.

NYIT added a run in the bottom of the third to push the lead to 4-0. Cumbo drilled a leadoff double the other way into the gap in left-center field and moved to third on a passed ball. Senior first baseman Jake Lebel followed and put the ball in play to pick up an RBI while reaching on an error.

Two more in the bottom of the fifth made it a 6-0 game. LaRocca reached on an error leading off and Cumbo dropped a bunt single up the first-base line, before a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third. Junior designated hitter Ryan Kuskowski would cash them both in with a one-out, line-drive single into left field.

The insurance runs loomed large, as Franklin Pierce again loaded the bases with one out in the sixth, but this time the Ravens cashed in on the opportunity with three runs. Junior first baseman Jonel Ozuna (New York, N.Y.) started things with a one-out single to center, before an eight-pitch walk to senior second baseman Carmine Giordano (New Rochelle, N.Y.) and a four-pitch walk to junior shortstop James Boria (Massapequa, N.Y.) loaded the bases. A wild pitch brought home the first run and a sacrifice fly to deep left by Lara cut the lead to 6-2. Junior catcher Dylan Jones (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) was next and dumped an RBI single into right field to make it 6-3.

Things unraveled a bit for Hart and the Ravens in the bottom of the seventh, as NYIT tacked on two more insurance runs, to make it 8-3. With one out, Cumbo drove the ball deep to right field, over the head of Mead for a double, which would turn into a "Little League home run", thanks to the Franklin Pierce defense. Mead airmailed the cutoff man while returning the ball to the infield, which allowed Cumbo to take off for third. Hurt backed up the throw, but then threw the ball into the third-base dugout while trying to make the play to third, which allowed Cumbo to score. On the very next pitch, Lebel crushed a long home run to straightaway left field, his team-leading seventh of the season.

An RBI single by McNeil in the bottom of the eighth added another run for NYIT to create the 9-3 final.

Hart (5-1) threw 102 pitches (73 strikes) over the first 6.2 innings for Franklin Pierce. He was charged with eight runs (six earned) on 10 hits, walked two and struck out eight while taking the loss.

For his part, Murphy (6-1) went six innings for NYIT on 125 pitches (78 strikes). He surrendered three runs on seven hits, walked four and struck out seven on the way to the win. Sophomore right-hander Zach White followed with three scoreless innings of two-hit ball, with three strikeouts, to nail down his first save of the season. 

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (https://www.fpuravens.com). 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 (https://www.fpuravens.com/store).