Johnson turns in strong pitching performance in game two

GAME 1 BOXSCORE

GAME 2 BOXSCORE

MANCHESTER, N.H. (April 7, 2011) -- The Franklin Pierce University softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader versus Saint Anselm Thursday afternoon in Manchester, N.H. The Ravens fell, 9-0, in five innings in game one, and dropped a 1-0 decision in game two. Franklin Pierce fell to 3-13 overall and 1-3 in the Northeast-10, while the Hawks improved to 10-9 and 2-2 in league play.

The highlight of the afternoon for the Ravens was the outstanding pitching performance from senior hurler Kayla Johnson (Hudson, N.H.) in game two. Despite suffering the loss to fall to 2-6 on the year, Johnson pitched a complete game, yielding just one run on six hits with four strikeouts and zero walks. The only blemish for Johnson on the afternoon was allowing an RBI single to Raylyn Glavin in the fifth inning, which proved to be the game-winning run.

It marked the second strong start in as many days for Johnson, who also turned in an outstanding performance in Wednesday's 3-1 win over Stonehill in game two of that doubleheader. In that game, she yielded just one run on five hits with five strikeouts and only one walk.

Franklin Pierce scratched out four hits in the second game versus St. A's, including two hits from Jayme Bilafer (Concord, Mass.), and a single apiece from Emily Griffin (Leominster, Mass.) and Jamie Wiley (Cape Vincent, N.Y.). Griffin and Bilafer singled to lead off the game, and were advanced to second and third, respectively, following a sacrifice bunt by Wiley. However, the Ravens could not push across a run as Jessica Furtado (Taunton, Mass.) and Rachel Baxter (Cumberland, R.I.) each flew out to left field to end the first inning.

In game one, Franklin Pierce managed just one hit, which came from Wiley. Rachel Allen (Hull, Mass.) got the start in the pitching circle, but was pulled after 1.2 innings as she gave up five runs on six hits with two walks. Jessica Wiley (Cape Vincent, N.Y.) came on in relief and pitched the remaining 2.1 innings, while allowing four runs on three hits. Allen suffered the loss to fall to 0-1 on the season.

Franklin Pierce is off Friday, but the Ravens return home this weekend for a doubleheader on both Saturday and Sunday. The Ravens will play host to Pace on Saturday, and then take on Adelphi on Sunday. Both days' doubleheaders will begin at 12 p.m., with the second game to follow at approximately 2 p.m.

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 Athletics on YouTube (www.youtube.com/FranklinPierceSports), Twitter (www.twitter.com/FPUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceAthletics).