#24 Franklin Pierce Splits 
at NJIT
Fournier’s six-hit shutout avoids sweep
Highlanders roll to game one win 

NEWARK, N.J. (March 7, 2004) – Franklin Pierce, ranked No. 24 in this week’s National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Division II poll, split a non-conference doubleheader at New Jersey Institute of Technology this afternoon. The Highlanders coasted to a 9-1 victory in game one, before the Ravens salvaged the nightcap, 2-0, to avoid the four-game weekend sweep.

             In game one, NJIT jumped out to a 5-0 lead after three innings and never looked back. Senior Chris Schwarz (Blairstown, N.J./North Warren) belted a solo homer in the first to give the Highlanders the early lead. NJIT tacked on three in the second by taking advantage of three walks from Franklin Pierce starter Bryan Borowski (Clarksburg, Mass./Drury). Junior Dan Lupo (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) lined a two-run single to spark the frame for NJIT. The Highlanders broke the game open with three runs in the fifth.

            Borowski suffered the loss for Franklin Pierce as he was touched for seven runs, four earned, on five hits with five walks and three strikeouts.

            Sophomore Mike Chambers (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) paced the offense as he hit a perfect 3-for-3 with a double. Senior Dante Blancarte (Amesbury, Mass./Amesbury) finished 1-2 with an RBI. 

BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

Batteries:
FP – Bryan Borowski, Tom Gilmore (5), Keith Brouillard (5) and Eric Cavers.
NJIT – Derrick McCain and Philip Resciniti.

WP: McCain (1-0)
LP: Borowski (0-1)
HR: Chris Schwarz              

In the nightcap, Franklin Pierce freshman Daniel Fournier (Worcester, Mass./Holy Name) fired a six-hit shutout in his collegiate debut to pace the Ravens to the 2-0 victory.

            Fournier carried a no-hitter into the fifth before sophomore Kwesi Mitchell (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway) legged out an infield single. Fournier scattered four walks and struck out seven in the victory.

            Chambers carried a hot bat for the Ravens again, as he was 2-3 with a double, while classmate Elliott Shea (Jaffrey, N.H./Conant) was 1-2 with a run scored.

            Shea scored the lone run Franklin Pierce would need in the fourth after he singled and stole second before scoring on a fielder’s choice by sophomore Mike Feetham (Quincy, Mass./North Quincy). The Ravens added an insurance run in the fifth as sophomore Shawn Hayes (Charlton, Mass./Holy Name) walked, stole second, then scored on a throwing error by the NJIT first baseman.

Teams	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
FP	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	2	5	0
NJIT	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	1

BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

Batteries:
FP – Daniel Fournier and Eric Cavers.
NJIT – Dennis Keefe, Michael Palomino (7) and Philip Resciniti.  

WP: Fournier (1-0)
LP: Keefe (0-1)

             Franklin Pierce (1-3) is scheduled to play at Teikyo Post University tomorrow at the University of New Haven at 3 p.m. NJIT (3-2) visits Rutgers-Newark on Tuesday at 4 p.m.