Framingham, MA – Sophomore outfielder Jake Wardwell (Hudson, Mass.) went 2-for-4 with five RBI to lead the Framingham State University baseball team to an 11-1 non-conference victory over Keene State College in the Rams home opener this afternoon at Bowditch Field.
With the win, the Rams even their record at 8-8 on the year, while the Owls slide to 4-8 overall.
Wardwell led the Rams potent offense with his two hits, five RBI and a run scored, while freshman Manny Powers (Malden, Mass.) was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBI. Powers also tossed an inning of scoreless relief to close the game for the Rams.
Sophomore Dillon Corliss (Winterport, ME) earned the victory on the hill improving his season mark to 3-1. Corliss tossed six scoreless innings surrendering just three hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Sophomore Chris Monroe (Fitchburg, Mass.) tossed an inning of scoreless relief and classmate Brendan McDonough (Chelmsford, Mass.) also went an inning and allowed one earned run on one hit with two walks.
The Rams grabbed the early lead with four runs in the bottom of the third inning as they strung together four hits to open the frame. Sophomore John Gill (Hudson, Mass.) and senior Matt Roberge (Lowell, Mass.) reached on back-to-back singles to open the inning. Powers followed with an RBI single to center and junior Matt Gerard (Milford, Mass.) laced a single to right to plate another run. A Wardwell sacrifice fly scored Powers and a play later Gerard stole third and took home on an errant throw by the Owls catcher that sailed into leftfield.
The Rams batted around in the bottom of the fourth extending their lead to 9-0. Power drove in a run with an RBI single to right, while Wardwell and sophomore R.J. Gray (Lowell, Mass.) drove two runs apiece on singles to center and right.
Keene State threatened in the fifth inning against Corliss loading the bases with two outs. Junior Tanner Chase (York, ME) and senior Nick Vita (Spofford, NH) both reached when they were hit by a pitch. A Framingham error on a grounder by Cody Dube (Windham, ME) loaded the bases but Corliss worked out of the jam without allowing a run as he struck out the next batter.
The Rams tacked on two more in the sixth on Wardwell’s second two RBI hit of the game that drove in Powers and Gerard who had both reached via a walk.
Keene State got on the board in the top of the eighth inning. A walk, a single to right from pinch hitter Dustin Howe (Newington, NH) and a hit batter loaded the bases with two outs. Freshman Austin Mariano (Londonderry, NH) worked a bases loaded walk to account for the Owls only run as McDonough was able to induce a groundout to end the inning.
Thanks to Kathy Lynch, Assistant Director of Athletics/Sports Information at Framingham State University for contributing this story. For more FSU RAMS sports info, box scores, calendar of upcoming games and sporting events, visit their website at: www.fsurams.com
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