Despite a loss to Umass Lowell on April 27, Franklin Pierce baseball finished the month with a 17-4-1 record (31-12-1 overall and 17-6-1 in the Northeast-10), winning 5 of their last 6 and 7 of their last 10 games.
The Ravens, then ranked 24 in the nation, have been lead by strong pitching and a well-balanced offensive attack. The team started the month by sweeping a double header against St. Michaels (5-1 in game one, 8- 4 in game two). The Ravens went on to split double headers with Southern Connecticut State (3- 7, 11- 5) and New Haven (0- 1, 14- 4).
They continued to sweep Assumption College (8-1, 11-2), American International (20-3, 11-5), Concordia (9-4, 8-6), Stone hill (2-1, 5-1), Merrimack (7-3, 2-1), as well as splitting series with Pace (0-1, 5-3), Umass Lowell (5-1, 3-5), and winning one and tying one with Southern New Hampshire University (5-3, 3-3).
The offense was lead by junior left fielder Mike Munoz who was 29-84 at the plate, good for a .345 batting average including 12 runs batted in (RBI), and sophomore catcher Mike Dowd who was 27- 89 batting for a .303 average and 15 RBI.
“In March my swing started to get really long because I was swinging too hard," said Munoz. "So in April I listened and did some extra work with my coaches who told me shorten my swing and drive the ball up the middle and to the opposite field."
Jose Macias lead the pitching staff with a 4-0 record in April and struck out 37 batters while freshman Joe Flyn went 4-1 and struck out 40. Freshman right-hander Rob Blanc coming out of the bullpen was 3-0 in and struck out 29.
“I just focus every time I step on the field and try to give my best and win,” said Macias.
The Ravens finish the regular season with a home double header against Adelphi at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field.
“We just have to keep playing the way we are playing," said Muonz. "Right now we are a tough team for anyone to beat, as long as we keep it up."
The Ravens will begin their run for the Northeast-10 crown starting today, May 6.
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