FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2016
Ravens Advance to Cary for Shot at National Title
RINDGE, N.H. – The Franklin Pierce University Ravens defeated the Southern New Hampshire University Penmen, 6-3, to win the NCAA East Regional Title on Monday. After the Penmen took the first game, 4-3, the Ravens bounced back in game two to claim their seventh regional championship. With the win, Franklin Pierce punches its ticket to Cary, N.C. to compete with eight teams in the national finals.
Game 1: So. New Hampshire 4, Franklin Pierce 3 | BOX SCORE
Facing potential elimination for the fifth straight game, Southern New Hampshire used a three-run fifth inning to edge Franklin Pierce and force a winner-take-all final game for the East Regional title.
NE-10 Pitcher of the Year Tim Viehoff took the ball for the Penmen, making his second start in five days. He retired the first three Ravens' batters to start off the game, including two strikeouts. The first run of the contest then came in the bottom of the first off the bat of SNHU's Mike Mastroberti, sending a solo home run just over the fence in right field.
The Ravens immediately answered in the top of the second, as Chris LaVorgna and Max DiTondo led off with back-to-back singles before Matt O'Herron's sacrifice bunt set up men on second and third with one out. Kurtis White then hit a slow groundout to second, allowing LaVorgna to score easily to tie the game.
After Viehoff fanned the first two batters in the top of the fifth, Franklin Pierce rallied with two outs to load the bases for two-time NE-10 Player of the Year Jay Jabs, who worked a full count before drawing a bases-loaded walk to force in the go-ahead run. Jake Walkinshaw then took over pitching duties for the Penmen, coming up with a huge strikeout to prevent further damage.
The Penmen quickly regained the lead with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. It started with Cam Oliveira reaching on a throwing error, advancing to second on a wild pitch and moving to third on a sacrifice bunt by Sean Webster. After Zach Goldstein walked, Manny Cruz drove in Oliveira with a single to left. Goldstein would later score on a wild pitch before Carson Helms brought home Cruz with a sacrifice fly to center to make it 4-2. Just like his counterpart, Franklin Pierce's Paul Covelle was chased after 4.2 innings of work on the bump.
Franklin Pierce cut into the lead in the top of the sixth, as White hit a two-out solo home run to left-center, bringing the Ravens within a run at 4-3. The Ravens threatened in the top of the ninth with the bases loaded and two outs, but Walkinshaw got DiTondo to ground out to first to end the game.
Cruz went 2-for-3 with an RBI, one run scored and a walk. Viehoff struck out seven and gave up two earned runs on four hits, while Walkinshaw (5-0) picked up the win after giving up just one run on four hits and striking out four over 4.1 innings.
Game 2: Franklin Pierce 6, So. New Hampshire 3 | BOX SCORE
Maxx Sheehan's two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh broke a 3-3 tie and ultimately sealed a 6-3 victory for the Ravens over the Penmen to claim the 2016 East Regional crown.
John Amendola started on the hill for Franklin Pierce, going seven innings with 10 strikeouts, giving up three runs (just one earned). Ivon Clough got the start for Southern New Hampshire, tossing two hitless shutout innings with three strikeouts.
The game went hitless for the first two innings until Joshua Zbierski broke through with a single up the middle for SNHU with one out in the top of the third. The Penmen threatened with two men on, but Amendola was able to escape the inning.
The Ravens were the first to cross the plate, scoring twice in the bottom of the third. Kyle Hood drew a one-out walk and moved to second on a single by Sheehan. Justin Brock then hit a single through the right side to load the bases for Jabs, who beat the throw on a close call at first, preventing the inning-ending double play and driving in the game's first run. Sheehan would then score on an infield single by LaVorgna, putting the Ravens up 2-0.
Similar to the first game, back-and-forth they went, as the Penmen immediately responded with two runs of their own in the top of the fourth. With Mastroberti and Helms on first and second, Derek Bauer reached on an error with Mastroberti coming in to score. Helms then came in with the game-tying run on a sacrifice fly to left field by Matt Rabbito.
The score didn't remain tied for long, as the Ravens jumped back, 3-2, on top in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs, White was hit by a pitch and then stole second, setting up Stephen Octave for an RBI double to right-center.
In the top of the sixth, Amendola struck out the first two batters of the inning before Rabbito ripped a double to left field. The Penmen once again pulled even with the Ravens, as Zbierski drove in Rabbito with a double to right-center to bring the score to 3-3.
Sheehan delivered in a big way for the Ravens in the bottom of the seventh, hitting his first home run of the season. Octave led off the inning with a single up the middle before Sheehan stepped in to give Franklin Pierce a 5-3 lead by lifting a two-run shot down the left field line. O'Herron then pushed the lead to three with a solo homer down the left field line in the bottom of the eighth. Tanner Putnam entered in the eighth and shut it out on the mound, striking out four and earning the five-out save to clinch the title.
Sheehan went 2-for-4 in the game with two runs scored and two RBI en route to tournament most valuable player honors. O'Herron and Octave also posted multi-hit games apiece, as did SNHU's Zbierski.
Thursday, May 19
Game 1: #4 Felician 3, #5 Bridgeport 0
Game 2: #7 Dowling 4, #2 Southern New Hampshire 0
Friday, May 20
Game 3: #3 Saint Thomas Aquinas 5, #6 Molloy 2
Game 4: #2 Southern New Hampshire 11, #6 Molloy 5 (Molloy eliminated)
Game 5: #1 Franklin Pierce 18, #4 Felician 0
Game 6: #3 Saint Thomas Aquinas 4, #7 Dowling 0
Saturday, May 21
Game 7: #2 Southern New Hampshire 20, #4 Felician 5 (Felician eliminated)
Game 8: #5 Bridgeport 7, #7 Dowling 6 (Dowling eliminated)
Game 9: #1 Franklin Pierce 12, #3 Saint Thomas Aquinas 8
Sunday, May 22
Game 10: #2 Southern New Hampshire 5, #5 Bridgeport 2 (Bridgeport eliminated)
Game 11: #2 Southern New Hampshire 10, #3 Saint Thomas Aquinas 4 (Saint Thomas Aquinas eliminated)
Monday, May 23
Game 12: #2 Southern New Hampshire 4, #1 Franklin Pierce 3
Game 13: #1 Franklin Pierce 6, #2 Southern New Hampshire 3
ABOUT THE NORTHEAST-10
The Northeast-10 Conference is an association of 15 NCAA Division II colleges and universities located in New England and New York that is committed to supporting balanced academic and athletic opportunities for more than 6,500 student-athletes.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE-10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the Northeast-10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
