May 9, 2009

Box Score

Audio Recap

RINDGE, N.H. (May. 9, 2009) - Ted Lerud (Hampden, Mass.) had four hits including two home runs as Franklin Pierce defeated UMass Lowell, 12-3, Saturday in the 2009 Northeast-10 Tournament at Dr. Pappas Field.

The Ravens improve to 34-16 with the win. They will play the winner of the New Haven/Assumption game at 7:00 p.m. Saturday. The loss eliminates the River Hawks from the tournament. They fall to 25-21.

Lerud was 4-for-5 with two home runs, two singles, five RBI and two runs scored to lead the Ravens, who scored 11 runs on 17 hits. In addition to Lerud's two home runs, Franklin Pierce hit five out of the park and had three multiple run innings.

The River Hawks held a brief lead in the game, scoring two runs on four hits in the top of the first inning. Tim Keene (Berlin, N.H.) and Matt Jacobs (Hudson, Mass.) each had run-scoring hits in the first.

The Ravens responded with three runs in the bottom to take the lead, a lead they did not relinquish. Mike Dowd (East Bridgewater, Mass.) got the Ravens on the board with a two-run home run to left field. Steve Carr (Nahant, Mass.) plated the third run with a sacrifice fly.

After the River Hawks failed to score in the third - they had the bases load with no outs - Lerud put the Ravens up 4-2 with the first of his two home runs on the day.

Franklin Pierce hit two more home runs in a three-run fifth. Derek Igui (Sterling, Mass.) collected his second extra base hit of the game with a solo home run. Three batters later Lerud followed with a two-run home run.

The Ravens tacked on four more runs in the sixth on five hits. Dowd and Lerud each had RBI singles. Ben Benigno (Trumbull, Conn.) capped the scoring in the frame with a solo home run to left center.

Dowd collected his third hit and fourth RBI of the game with an RBI double in the eighth.

UMass Lowell had its chances to cut into the Franklin Pierce lead, but scored just one run after the first inning. UML stranded 11 runners on base, including two in the first, three in the third and two more in the fifth. The River Hawks had the bases loaded with no outs in the third, but did not score.

Rob Nicholas (Northboro, Mass.) picked up the win in relief for the Ravens. He struck out two and allowed just two hits over 2.2 innings. Nicholas improved to 2-1.

Starter Tom Cote (Swanzey, N.H.) allowed three runs on eight hits over 4.1 innings. He struck out five and walked three. He did not figure into the decision.

Jack Leathersich (Beverly, Mass.) took the loss for UMass Lowell to drop to 7-4 on the year. Leathersich surrendered seven runs on 10 hits over 4.1 innings.

Pat Devlin (Tewksbury, Mass.) and Luke Wallace (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) each had two hits for UMass Lowell.