Clippers baseball falls twice to nationally ranked Franklin Pierce

Box score Game 1

Box score Game 2

The Clippers headed to New Hampshire to face off against the #23 Franklin Pierce University Ravens.  With two outs in the top of the first inning, Donnie Roth led the inning off with a single to second base.  As TJ Walsh was at the plate, Roth stole second to put himself in scoring position.  A single up the middle by Walsh scored Roth and the Clippers took the lead. 

Tommy Paradise was given the ball for Thursday's game.  Paradise retired the Ravens first three batters to keep the Clippers in the lead.  The Ravens did even up the score in the bottom of the second. 

The Clippers struggled through the next few innings on the offensive side of ball but were right there on the defensive end to back up Paradise. 

In the bottom of the fifth with the score still tied, the Ravens went on a two out spree to score six runs.  Paradise eventually found his way out of the inning as Raphael Martinez would take over starting in the sixth. 

The Clippers attacked in the top of the eighth as Luis Gonzalez started the inning off with a one out single to right field.  Christopher Motta then hit a single to third base and the Clippers had runners on first and second.  A double to left center by Anthony Carnacchio scored Gonzalez and put two runners in scoring position.  Mike Sciacchitano hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Motta.  Donnie Roth was up next as he hit a single down the right line for Carnacchio to score and keep the Clippers rolling.  TJ Walsh knocked a single through the right side to put another Clipper on base.  Unfortunately that was the end of the scoring for the Clippers as they struggled in the ninth.  The Clippers dropped game one 9-4.

Friday saw the second game with the Ravens as the Clippers continued to struggle with their bats. 

Anthony Pisano was given the ball for the game as he gave up a hit but the defense then rolled a double play and the Clippers got out of the inning.  The Ravens got on the board first though in the bottom of the second to take the lead. 

As the Clippers continued to struggle at the plate the Ravens continued to score as they went up 7-0 after six innings of play.

The Clippers finally got on the board in the top of the seventh as Greg Conway led off with a single to left field.  A two out double to right center field from Mike Sciacchitano scored Conway.  Sciacchitano made his way to second off of an error by the second baseman and then moved to third.  Scicchitano scored off of a wild pitch and the Clippers were on the board with two. 

The top of the eighth inning saw another run for the Clippers as Donnie Roth led off with a two out single through the right side.  A single up the middle by TJ Walsh scored Roth to give the Clippers their third run of the game.

The top of the ninth came up and the Clippers were down to their last three outs.  A one out single up the middle by Mike Sciacchitano led the inning off for the Clippers.  John Pliego was walked aboard and Sciacchitano was moved up to second.  With a single to left center field by Anthony Carnacchio, Sciacchitano was able to score.  A walk by Matt Cintorino loaded the bases up.  Donnie Roth hit into a fielder's choice to score Pliego and move Carnacchio to third.  With runners on the corners and two outs, Roth attempted to steal second and an error by the Ravens shortstop allowed Roth to be safe and Carnacchio to cross home to give the Clippers their sixth run of the game.  Unfortunately the Clippers were halted after that moment and they fell 8-6.

The Clippers will host C.W. Post on Sunday as they celebrate Damien Myers as his jersey will be retired.