Recap by Director of Athletic Communications Luke Tracy 

HOOKSETT, N.H. (5/16/2024) – The Ravens opened up the East Regional I tournament with a hard 19-6 loss to the Jefferson Rams Thursday afternoon. Jefferson pieced together a pair of six-run innings and capitalized on a struggling FPU bullpen which handed out 14 walks.    

Score: Franklin Pierce 6, Jefferson 19
Records: Franklin Pierce 28-19, Jefferson 33-15
Location: Penmen Field, Southern New Hampshire University, Hooksett, New Hampshire
Date: Thursday, May 16, 2024 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Following a 1-2-3 top of the third inning, the score sat at 0-0. That changed quickly after the bottom of the third included five walks, a batter hit by a pitch, an error and two hits which lifted the Rams to a 6-0 lead.
• Down two outs in the top of the third, Kio Lugo (Boston, MA) brought the energy back to the Raven dugout with a solo run homer to make it a 6-1 ballgame. Responding in the bottom of the fourth, the Rams put up another two runs off a sacrifice bunt and a single to left center to extend their lead to 8-1.
• The Ravens had their best offensive push in the top of the fifth which started with an RBI double from Chris Roberti (New Fairfield, CT) which scored Hunter Wilichoski (Hamilton, MA), 8-2. Ian Battipaglia (Cheshire, CT) followed up three batters later with a three-RBI homer scoring Joey Acker (Upton, MA) and Roberti and cut the score to 8-5.
• In the top of the sixth inning, two hits and a walk for the Ravens loaded the bases before Julien Monks (Pacé, France) went to the dish. After four outside pitches, Monks trotted to first and Colin Hoffman (Longmeadow, MA) trotted home to cut the Rams' lead to two.
• The Rams kicked off the bottom of the sixth inning with a double to left field followed by three consecutive walks which extended their lead to three, 9-6. Two batters later the Rams hit a two-RBI double which was followed by another run scored off a wild pitch to make it 13-6.
• The Rams blanked the Ravens in the final three innings and delivered a six-run bottom of the eighth to take the 19-6 victory.
• Pitching made the difference in the opening game of the Regional Tournament. The Ravens cycled through four pitchers who only put together eight strikeouts while tallying 14 walks. As for Jefferson, the Rams used three pitchers tallying six scoreless innings and 10 strikeouts.  

NEXT FOR THE RAVENS: Following the game one loss, the Ravens play later Thursday against the no. 1 seeded host, Southern New Hampshire University. If the Ravens win, they advance to play on Saturday but if they lose they are eliminated from the tournament.