Franklin Pierce and New Haven Start Championship Weekend 1-0
MANSFIELD, Mass. - After day two of the NE10 Championship, and the opening day of Championship Weekend, both one seeds and both three seeds are eliminated. The day began with a pitching and defensive masterclass from New Haven, who has not allowed a run yet in this year's tournament. It followed up with an offensive explosion from the Franklin Pierce Ravens. They put up ten runs to follow up their walk off victory Tuesday, including a seven run fourth inning at their home field.
After #4 Assumption eliminated Northeast #1 seed SNHU on Tuesday, they failed to score in game one today against the Chargers. Their backs were put up against the wall again, as Southwest #1 seed Pace put up four runs in the bottom of the second. The Greyhounds responded with runs in the third, fourth, and four more in the fifth to put themselves back in the lead. They held on to eliminate the Setters from the NE10 Championship, and survive another day.
#2 NE Franklin Pierce will play #2 SW New Haven tomorrow at 11am at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field in Rindge, N.H. The winner will have the rest of the day off, and go into championship Saturday 2-0 of a double elimination champioinship. The loser of Franklin Pierce vs New Haven will play #4 NE Assumption in an elimination game, with the winner of that game moving on to the championship, needing to win twice Saturday for the title.
All games during Championship Weekend will be streamed live on NE10NOW.tv.
(2) Franklin Pierce 10, (1) Pace 2 - Box Score
RINDGE, N.H. - A seven-run fourth inning from the Ravens was enough to hold off the Setters as Franklin Pierce took the win by a final score of 10-2. A Matthew Franco solo home run helped Pace jump out to a one-run lead in the second before the tables turned for the Blue and Gold.
Franklin Pierce evened the game at one the next inning and never looked back as they strung together ten unanswered runs, to put the game out of reach. A Nolan DeAndrade home run in the sixth made the game 10-1. The Setters answered with a run in the bottom of the sixth but at that point, the game was tilted far towards the Ravens side.
Both teams remained quiet in the final three innings as Franklin Pierce came away with a commanding 10-2 victory over the Setters.
Franklin Pierce's Kyle Roche earned the win for the Ravens, tossing 5.1 innings allowing two hits, and two runs while striking out four batters. Batting-wise the Ravens had seven hits compared to Pace's six as it was timely hitting that led to their win, including RBI singles from Hunter Wilichoski and Colin Hoffman.
(2) New Haven 4, (4) Assumption 0 - Box Score
RINDGE, N.H. – Sophomore Michael Gatti made easy work of the Assumption Greyhounds as he struck out 12 batters and combined with Matthew Minio for a second-straight shutout, this time 4-0 over the Assumption Greyhounds. With the win, the Chargers advance in the winner's bracket of the Northeast-10 Conference Championship and will face Franklin Pierce on Friday morning at 11:00 a.m.
Gattie threw eight total innings of shutout ball, allowing eight total hits to the Greyhounds lineup. After a first inning where he was forced to work out of trouble, Gatti settled in after his offense provided a 2-0 lead. Overall, he struck out each of the first seven batters in the Greyhounds lineup at least once, and four of the seven multiple times, including three K's to the Greyhounds three hole hitter Cody Smith.
Coming out of the pen, Matt Minio would surrender a pair of hits but strand both of those runners on base thanks to a part of groundouts. This marks the second straight game Minio has come out of the pen to secure the final three outs of a Chargers shutout.
At the plate it was the bat of Matt McIntire who led the way as the sophomore first baseman drove in three runs, including a pair on a first inning home run over the left field fence to give his time the early lead. He would go on to drive in the third run of the game on a second-inning RBI single to left. For the game, he finished 2-for-4 at the plate.
As a team, New Haven finished with 10 hits, with those scattered across seven players. Joining McIntire with a multi-hit outing was infielders Joseph Frazzetta and Noah Budzik who each finished 2-for-4. Budzik accounted for the Chargers final run when he drove in Frazzetta on a third-inning single through the left side.
- Recap provided by New Haven athletic communications -
(4) Assumption 7, (1) Pace 4 - Box Score
RINDGE, N.H. – Pace scored four runs in the second inning of the elimination game, capped off by a three-run home run by Anthony Labita. Owen Podolec put the Hounds on the board in the top of the third inning with a solo home run to left field. Cody Smith scampered home on a wild pitch in the top of the fourth to get Assumption within two (4-2).
The Greyhounds would have to wait until the top of the fifth inning to take their first lead of the day, as Jack Barry launched a grand slam to left field, putting Assumption up 6-4. Sean Moynihan hit a solo shot to left field in the top of the eighth.
Corey Chiappone earned the win, pitching 5.0 scoreless innings in relief after allowing two hits and recording one strikeout. Evan McCarthy picked up the save after pitching the eighth and ninth with four strikeouts.
With the win over Pace, the Greyhounds are the first team since the Northeast-10 Conference split into two divisions, to knock out both No. 1 seeds, as a No. 4 seed.
- Recap provided by Assumption athletic communications -
NE10 Baseball Championship
Tuesday, May 7th – First Round (single elimination)
Game 1: #4 NE Assumption 23, #1 NE SNHU 2
Game 2: #2 NE Franklin Pierce 8, #3 NE Bentley 6 (F/10)
Game 3: #1 SW Pace 8, #4 SW Saint Rose 5
Game 4: #2 SW New Haven 6, #3 SW Adelphi
Thursday, May 9th, Friday, May 10th and Saturday, May 11th (Finals weekend will be hosted by the Southwest Division and is a double-elimination format)
Game 5 (Thursday): #2 NE Franklin Pierce 10, #1 SW Pace 2
Game 6 (Thursday): #2 SW New Haven 4, #4 NE Assumption 0
Game 7: (Thursday): #4 NE Assumption 7, #1 SW Pace 4
Game 8: (Friday): #2 NE Franklin Pierce vs. #2 SW New Haven - 11am
Game 9: (Friday): #4 NE Assumption vs. Game 8 loser - 2pm
Game 10: Game 9 winner vs. Game 8 winner
Game 11: If necessary.
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 12 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 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 NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
