ALBANY, N.Y. - The College of Saint Rose pushed across seven runs in the first inning on the way to a 9-4 win in the opener to forge a split with Franklin Pierce this afternoon at Bob Bellizzi Field within the Plumeri Sports Complex. The Ravens (23-11) bounced back to take the nightcap 19-6.
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Sophomore shortstop
Jelani Hamer, freshman left fielder
James Ward, and freshman catcher
Niko Mokanos had three hits apiece to lead the Golden Knights (17-21) in the matinee.
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Mokanos belted an RBI double and Hamer smashed a two-run triple to account for most of the damage in the first. Freshman center fielder
Jake Ranney added an RBI triple in the fifth.
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Meanwhile, freshman right-hander
Ian McCasland allowed two earned runs over 6.0 innings of work to pick up his first collegiate victory.
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Sophomore shortstop Ian Battipaglia went 3-for-4 with a solo home run to lead Franklin Pierce.
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In the finale, the Ravens scored a run in the first and three more in the third to go up 4-0. They broke it open with a seven-run, fifth.
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Sophomore center fielder
Avery Pascucci, freshman first baseman
Thomas Krill, and freshman catcher
Brodryck Benton had two hits apiece to pace the Saint Rose offense. In addition, sophomore right fielder
Steve Sanders lofted a three-run triple in the fifth.
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Battapaglia again propelled the Franklin Pierce offense by finishing 4-for-5 with four runs scored and two homers.
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Looking ahead, the Golden Knights head to West Haven, Conn. for Northeast-10 Conference doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday at New Haven. Franklin Pierce returns home to welcome NE10 Northeast Division leader and #12 Southern New Hampshire for a four-game series that begins Friday and wraps up Sunday in Rindge, N.H..
Notes: The Golden Knights have won six of their last eight…Fifteen different players had at least one hit throughout today's two games…Saint Rose is 11-4 when it scores in the first inning……Junior right-hander
Jared Restmeyer was named to the NE10 weekly honor roll for the third time this season on Monday.
Golden Knights Golf Classic: The Golden Knights Golf Classic is set for Friday, June 10 at Pinehaven Country Club. Reunite with friends, teammates, alumni and supporters of the Golden Knights for a round of golf. All proceeds will directly benefit the 350-plus Saint Rose student-athletes. The success of the
Golden Knights Golf Classic, as our primary department fundraising event, is contingent upon the generosity of friends, alumni, and others to participate in this year's event. Your financial support will enhance the intercollegiate experience for our student-athletes and allow our programs to stay on par with our NCAA Division II competitors in the ever-changing landscape of intercollegiate athletics.
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