Ravens fall, 14-4, to Doane and lose 7-3 to Nichols during rain and snow-soaked first day of Tuscon Invitational Games

Boxscore vs. Doane
Boxscore vs. Nichols

TUCSON, Ariz. (March 16, 2008) – The Franklin Pierce University softball team dropped a pair of games on its first day of the Tucson Invitational Games on Sunday evening at Lincoln Park. The Ravens fell to Doane College, 14-4, in the team’s season-opener and then lost a 7-3 decision to Nichols College in their second matchup of the evening.


Franklin Pierce 14, Doane 4 (five innings)

In the Ravens’ 2008 season opener, Doane scored six runs in the top of the first inning and scored at least once in every inning as the Tigers cruised to a 14-4 victory over Franklin Pierce at Lincoln Park.

Franklin Pierce committed four errors in the first frame, allowing the Tigers to score six times (four unearned) off junior righthander Courtney Jacobs (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg). In all, the Ravens committed six errors on the night, resulting in six unearned runs to cross the plate.

Jacobs (0-1) took the loss for Franklin Pierce, giving up nine runs (five earned) on six hits in 2 1/3 innings of work while striking out one and walking five. Freshman Caitlin Beagan (Warwick, R.I./Pilgrim) came on in relief of Jacobs and pitched the final 2 2/3 innings, giving up five runs (three earned) on four hits in her first collegiate appearance.

Doane senior Megan Steele (Fairbury, Neb.) pitched a complete game for the Tigers, giving up four runs on 11 hits in five innings to earn the win.

Junior Jackie Prybella (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) had a perfect day at the plate for Franklin Pierce, going 2-for-2 with a pair of singles and two runs batted in. Senior Nicole Leary (Hanover, Mass./Hanover) and sophomore Kristen Tracy (Putnam Valley, N.Y./Walter Panas) also had two hits each for the Ravens, with Leary going 2-for-3 with a double and Tracy knocking in two runs with a 2-for-3 showing, including a double.


Nichols 7, Franklin Pierce 3

Franklin Pierce also fell behind early in its second game of the night, as Nichols jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings and held on for a 7-3 victory.

Prybella had a pair of hits once again for the Ravens, hitting 2-for-4 with two doubles and a pair of RBI. Freshman Erin Clark (Fort Ann, N.Y./Fort Ann) had a double and a single for her first career multi-hit game, while classmate Emily Griffin (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) had two singles and an RBI.

Raven freshman Kayla Johnson (Hudson, N.H./Alvirne) made her first collegiate start on Sunday, pitching the first six innings and giving up seven runs (five earned) on nine hits. Johnson (0-1) also struck out three and walked two. Her counterpart, Nichols senior Lindsay Hassett (Oxford, Mass./Oxford), gave up three runs on eight hits and struck out eight in a complete-game effort.

The Ravens were down 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning when the team received a bad break from the umpiring crew. With two outs and two on, Bison senior Christina Palmerino (Southbridge, Mass./Southbridge) hit a deep fly to center that bounced short of the fence and hopped over, but the umpire trailing the play did not see the ball hit the turf and instead signaled a home run. Despite an argument from the Raven side, the call stood and Palmerino had a three-run homer that helped the Bison to victory.

Franklin Pierce (0-2, 0-0 NE-10) returns for its second day at the Tucson Invitational Games on Monday, with games against Nazareth College at 4 p.m. and Babson College at 6 p.m. local time. Doane (5-2, 0-0 GPAC) plays next on Tuesday, then the Tigers take on Franklin Pierce again at 10:15 a.m., while Nichols (1-0, 0-0 CCC) takes on Western Nebraska Community College later tonight