Ravens battle nationally-ranked Bloomsburg tough in season-opener

ORLANDO, Fla. (March 13, 2011) -- The Franklin Pierce University softball team opened its 2011 season on Saturday evening in Orlando. The Ravens battled hard but came just short in a pair of games, including an 8-7 setback to No. 4 nationally-ranked Bloomsburg, and a 7-2 loss to Northern State. The Ravens fell to 0-2 on the season.

In the first game versus Bloomsburg, the Ravens scored four times in the first inning and added another run in the second to take a 5-0 lead. However, Bloomsburg scored four times in the third to pull within a run at 5-4. The teams would swap runs over the next several frames and Bloomsburg would score three times in the bottom of the seventh to pull off the the 8-7 triumph.

Several Ravens had strong performances in the game, including senior second baseman Emily Griffin (Leominster, Mass.), who had three doubles and drove in a trio of runs. Sophomore infielder Jessica Furtado (Taunton, Mass.) doubled in the game and drove in three runs as well.

In the pitching circle, junior pitcher Jessica Wiley (Cape Vincent, N.Y.) struck out five and allowed all eight runs, but just one was earned as Franklin Pierce committed six errors.

In the second game versus Northern State, the Ravens spotted their opponent a run in both the first and second innings, but they were able to push across a pair of runs in the bottom of the second to knot the score at 2-2. However, Northern State was able to score four times in the third to earn the victory.

Freshman infielder Ashley Noke (Cumberland, R.I.) drove in a run for Franklin Pierce with a double, while junior infielder Meaghan O'Neal (Littleton, Mass.) stroked a pair of base hits. Sophomore outfielder Megan Bird (Laconia, N.H.) added a double for the Ravens.

Senior pitcher Kayla Johnson (Hudson, N.H.) got the start in the circle and went all seven innings and yielded seven runs (only three earned) on eight hits with three strikeouts.

Franklin Pierce returned to action on Sunday with another doubleheader, this time versus St. Thomas and Wilmington. The Ravens fell to St. Thomas in the first game, 7-4, and then dropped a 3-2 decision to Wilmington in eight innings. More information on those games to follow.

For more information on Franklin Pierce softball, please visit the team's page at athletics.franklinpierce.edu(.) To follow the program even further, please visit Franklin Pierce on YouTube (www.youtube.com/FranklinPierceSports), Twitter (www.twitter.com/FPUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceAthletics).