Jessica Furtado gets on track offensively with a single and a run scored in win over ODU

DECATUR, Ala. (February 16, 2013) -- The Franklin Pierce University softball team once again showed its resiliency on Saturday at the UAH Charger Chillout in Decatur, Ala. After dropping the first game of the day to Southern Indiana by a count of 6-3 at the Wilson Morgan Softball Complex, the Ravens countered with a satisfying 3-0 win over Ohio Dominican in the evening. The Ravens evened their record at 2-2 on the season.

The highlight of the day was the complete-game performance from senior hurler Rachel Allen (Hull, Mass.) in the night cap, as she tossed seven superb innings by yielding just two hits to earn the shutout victory and raise her record to 2-0 on the young season.

Franklin Pierce got all the runs it needed in the first inning as the Ravens crossed the dish three times. Freshman Courtney Caputo (Stony Brook, N.Y.) got the inning started with a base hit through the middle of the infield and eventually moved to third on a passed ball. She scored on Tricia Hansen's (Mansfield, Mass.) ground out to short, as Hansen collected her second RBI in as many days to begin her collegiate career.

Senior catcher Jessica Furtado (Taunton, Mass.) got on track offensively with a single to center field and came around to score a batter later on Sam Conners' (Jackson, N.J.) RBI double to right center. Conners was able to make her way home on the play as a throwing error by ODU enabled her to move up two bases for the frame's third run.

Caputo and Conners each stroked a pair of hits in the game, including the latter blasting two doubles. Senior Megan Bird (Laconia, N.H.) and sophomore Alicia Dean (Danvers, Mass.) each had a base hit as well.

It looked like Saturday was going to get off to a great start as the Ravens scored twice in the bottom of the first inning in game one against Southern Indiana. 

Caputo scored the inning's first tally on a passed ball and Hansen capped the frame with a run off a sacrifice fly from Conners.

The Screaming Eagles, though, mounted a comeback in the third inning with five runs, highlighted by a grand slam from Brooke Harmening.

Franklin Pierce tried to claw its way back in the fifth inning and scored a run on a Southern Indiana error, but the Ravens could not complete the comeback themselves. 

Mandi Adee (Kinderhook, N.Y.) got the start in the pitching circle for the Ravens -- her first collegiate start -- and suffered the loss after going just 2.2 innings and yielding five runs (3 earned) on five hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Hansen pitched in relief and gave up a run and a hit over 4.1 innings of work.

The Ravens conclude the Charger Chillout on Sunday with a pair of games, including taking on Wayne State at 9 a.m., followed by a contest with Tiffin at 11 a.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/FranklinPierceRavens). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce softball apparel can do so on the athletic department's online store at athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store(.)