FORT PIERCE, Fla. – The Norwich University baseball team took on Franciscan in a doubleheader on Sunday.

The Cadets picked up their second sweep of 2020 with a 7-5 win in game one and a resounding 14-5 victory in game two.

In game one, Franciscan carried a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the third inning. Freshman center fielder Jeremy Carrick (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) reached on a fielder's choice to collect an RBI and make it 4-1. Senior right fielder Chris Dayos (Temecula, Calif.) and fellow senior third baseman Brandon Profita (New Milford, Conn.) then lifted back-to-back RBI singles to the outfield for a 4-3 score. Sophomore catcher Cameron Chamberlain (Marlborough, N.H.) capped the scoring in the inning with an RBI single to tie the contest 4-4.

Franciscan took a 5-4 lead in the top of the fourth, but NU rallied once again in the home half of the inning. Junior short stop Jacob Parizo (Groton, Conn.) ripped an RBI single to center field and then Profita roped a two-run single to right for the 7-5 Cadet lead.

Norwich did not look back, as freshman Robert Slocum (Windsor, Vt.) was spectacular in relief. He allowed one earned run on five hits and one walk over four and two-third innings. He fanned seven Barons and improved to 2-0 on the season. 

In the second game, the Cadets jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning after junior center fielder Koby Foster (Estill Springs, Tenn.) ripped a two-run single. Parizo then reached on an error that allowed sophomore catcher Connor McGee (Wakefield, R.I.) to score.

In the top of the third sophomore first baseman Hunter Lavigne (Charlton, Mass.) drew a bases loaded walk to make it 4-0 and McGee lifted a sacrifice fly to give NU a 5-0 lead. Foster then roped an RBI single for the 6-0 Cadet edge. 

The Barons struck for three runs in the bottom of the third to cut the score to 6-3 before Dayos reached on an error that allowed Parizo to score for a 7-3 lead.

Franciscan plated two runs in the home half of the fourth inning for a 7-5 score, but the NU bats came alive in the top of the sixth inning for five runs. 

Lavigne drew another bases loaded walk in the top of the sixth followed by another bases juiced walk drawn by freshman catcher Jack Borneman (Bethlehem, Penn.) for a 9-5 lead. Foster then lifted a sacrifice fly, followed by an RBI single by freshman second baseman Abel Oropeza (Whittier, Calif.). Parizo ripped an RBI single to cap the rally and take a 12-5 score into the seventh inning.

Profita roped his first collegiate home run, scoring Dayos, in the top of the seventh inning for the 14-5 final.

Sophomore Tanner Raymond (Southbury, Conn.) went the distance on the bump for the Cadets, allowing five earned runs on eight hits and four walks over seven innings. He struck out four batters.

The Cadets now stand at 4-4 on the season while Franciscan falls to 1-3. Norwich is next in action on Tuesday afternoon, taking on Geneva in a twinbill. Game times are set for 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.