WORCESTER, M.A. (4/27/2024) — The Franklin Pierce baseball team captured the doubleheader sweep Saturday afternoon against Assumption at Rocheleau Field, winning 2-1 in game one and 8-5 in game two. 

Score (Game 1): Franklin Pierce 2, Assumption 1
Score (Game 2): Franklin Pierce 8, Assumption 5
Records: Franklin Pierce (23-13, 16-6 NE-10), Assumption (16-24, 10-12 NE-10)     
Location: Worcester, M.A (Rocheleau Field)     
Date: Saturday, April 27, 2024     

HOW IT HAPPENED:     

Game 1:

• In the top of the sixth, junior infielder Kiobel Lugo (Boston, MA) hit a two-run home run to left center field for his sixth homer of the season to make it 2-0 Franklin Pierce. 

• Senior pitcher Kyle Roche (Braintree, MA) pitched seven innings and picked up his sixth win of the season. He gave up five hits, one run, three walks, and struck out eight batters. Senior pitcher Tyler McDonald (Haverhill, MA) closed out the game and pitched two scoreless innings. He struck out two batters and picked up his second save of the season. 

Game 2: 

• Franklin Pierce scored two runs in the top of the first. Graduate infielder Ian Battipaglia (Cheshire, CT) had an RBI single, scoring graduate outfielder Eli Battipaglia (Cheshire, CT). Sophomore first baseman Nolan DeAndrade (Bridgewater, MA) doubled down the left field line, scoring Ian Battipaglia. 

• In the top of the second, junior infielder Julien Monks (Pace, France) had an RBI triple, scoring Brycen Tetler (Plymouth, MA) to make it 3-0 Ravens. Then, Eli Battipaglia doubled down the left field line, scoring Monks to give Franklin Pierce a 4-0 lead. 

• In the seventh, Ian Battipaglia homered to right field to make it 6-5 Franklin Pierce. In the eighth, senior infielder Connor Smalley (West Sayville, NY) had an RBI sacrifice fly to left field, and DeAndrade scored from third base to make it 7-5. In the final inning, Lugo filed out to left field, scoring Eli Battipaglia to give the Ravens an 8-5 lead. 

• Freshman pitcher Niklas Pavia (Bolton, MA) got the start, pitched six innings, and picked up his fourth win of the season. He gave up seven hits, four runs, two walks, one home run, and struck out seven batters. Junior pitcher Stephen Bangs (Stoughton, MA) closed out the game and pitched three scoreless innings. He gave up three hits, one walk, and struck out two batters. 

NEXT FOR THE RAVENS: The final game of the season series between Franklin Pierce and Assumption at Rocheleau Field in Worcester, Massachusetts, is tomorrow, Sunday, April 28. First pitch is at noon.