Recap by student-staff writer Colin Struckman

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (2/23/2024) – The Franklin Pierce University Ravens baseball team picked up their first win of the season on Friday with a dramatic walk-off victory over the Wilmington Wildcats, 11-10.  

Score: Franklin Pierce 11, Wilmington 10 
Records: Franklin Pierce 1-1(0-0, NE10) Wilmington 0-1 (0-0, CACC)  
Location: Ripken Complex / Polo Grounds (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) 
Date: Friday, February 23, 2024   

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• The Wildcats opened the floodgates in the top of the 1^st inning, scoring 5 runs to put the Ravens in an early hole.  
• It took until the bottom of the 3^rd for the Ravens to get on the board. Ian Battipaglia (Cheshire, Conn.) got the inning started with a single to center field, then advanced to second on a wild patch. With 2 outs, Hunter Wilichoski (Hamilton, Mass.) walked. Battipaglia then scored on a passed ball to make it a 5-1 ballgame.
• The Battipaglia twins combined to give the Ravens another run in the bottom of the 4^th inning. Eli Battipaglia (Cheshire, Conn.) lasered a ball to left field for a triple. Ian Battipaglia then ripped a ground-rule double to left center, scoring Eli Battipaglia to make it 5-2 Wildcats.  
• Down 6-2 in the bottom of the 6^th, Ian Battipaglia added another RBI with sacrifice fly to right field.  
• The Wildcats added on to their lead in the top of the 7^th with 3 runs, taking a commanding 9-3 lead.  
• The Ravens started their comeback in the bottom of the 7^th inning. Pinch hitter Vincent Eramo (Shirley, Mass.) smoked a ball to left center for a 2-run homer, cutting the deficit to 9-5. Eli Battipaglia then hit his second triple of the game to right center, scoring 2 runs to make it 9-7 Wildcats. With the bases loaded, Joey Acker (Upton, Mass.) drew a walk to cut the Wildcats lead to 1.
• The Wildcats added another run in the top of the 8^th to give them the 10-8 lead.  
• The Ravens finally pulled even in the bottom of the 8^th. Nolan DeAndrade (Bridgewater, Mass.) tattooed a ball to left field for a two-run homer, tying the game at 10 a-piece.  
• The game was tied at 10 going into the bottom of the 9^th, with a chance for the Ravens to walk it off. With one out, Vincent Eramo added his second homer of the game to right field for a walk-off solo shot, giving the Ravens the 11-10 victory and their first of the season.  

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS: 

• Eli Battipaglia led the Ravens in hits, going 4-5 with 2 RBI's at the dish.  
• Vincent Eramo led the Ravens in RBI's, going 2-3 with 2 homers and 3 RBI's. 
• The Ravens outhit the Wildcats 10-7.  

NEXT UP FOR THE RAVENS: The Ravens will square off against the St. Thomas Aquinas Spartans on Saturday (2/24) in Myrtle Beach at the Griffith Field for a double-header.