Melissa Morgan launches two-run homer in game two

RINDGE, N.H. (April 7, 2013) -- The Franklin Pierce University softball team was swept by Adelphi in a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at the FPU Softball Field in Rindge, N.H. The Ravens fell, 10-2 in in six innings in game one, and then dropped a tough 6-3 decision in game two. Franklin Pierce fell to 3-14 (1-9 Northeast-10, 0-4 Northeast Division), while the Panthers improved 25-7 (16-1 Northeast-10, 7-1 Southwest Division).

The Ravens smacked a pair of long balls on the day, but could not build off the momentum. Freshman Melissa Morgan's (Clifton Park, N.Y.) two-run homer with two outs in the seventh inning of game two pulled the Ravens to within 6-3 and breathed some life into Franklin Pierce's dugout.

However, Adelphi reliever Laurin Watts retired the next Ravens batter to close out the win and complete the two-game sweep for the Panthers.

Watts worked the final two innings in relief after Adelphi starter Katie Andrews pitched the first five frames and yielded just one run on a hit with five strikeouts to earn the win.

Andrews, however, struggled with command at times and issued seven walks, which allowed the Ravens to hang around in the game for a portion of it. 

Franklin Pierce cut its deficit in half at 2-1 in the bottom of the third as a wild pitch from Andrews allowed Tricia Hansen (Mansfield, Mass.) to come home from third.

The Ravens couldn't get the equalizer and Adelphi added to its lead at 5-1 in the fifth inning, highlighted by an RBI double to left field from Victoria Wink. The Panthers tacked on a run in the top of the seventh before Franklin Pierce had its one last gasp in the bottom of the frame.
Hansen also got the nod in the pitching circle for the Ravens and went the distance allowing six runs on 10 hits. However, she yielded just three earned runs as Franklin Pierce committed four errors in the contest, including two in the three-run fifth.

Morgan's two-run blast moved her into a tie for the team lead in homers with two. She tied senior Jessica Furtado (Taunton, Mass.), who just hours earlier launched a two-run shot of her own in game one of the doubleheader, which accounted for all of the Ravens' offense in the eight-run setback. Furtado's bomb came in the bottom of the fifth as she deposited a fastball over the fence in straight-away center field. Morgan also scored on the play as she singled the prior at-bat to break up Adelphi starter Devon Kelly's bid at a perfect game.

Kelly retired the first 13 Ravens she faced over 4.1 innings and received outstanding run support early on as Adelphi scored twice in the third and pushed three more across in the fourth to open up a 5-0 lead. Heather Salerno was the catalyst for the Panthers as she stroked a two-run single in the third and then smacked a two-run double to highlight the fifth.

After Furtado's launch, Adelphi tacked on five more in the sixth to set the eight-run rule into effect. Kelly earned the win and improved to 9-3 after striking out six with zero walks in 5.0 innings of work. Senior hurler Rachel Allen (Hull, Mass.) got the start in the pitching circle for Franklin Pierce and suffered the loss after going 5.1 innings and allowing four earned runs on nine hits. She fell to 2-4.

Franklin Pierce returns to action Tuesday when the Ravens travel to Manchester to take on Southern New Hampshire in a doubleheader beginning at 4 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/FranklinPierceRavens). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce softball apparel can do so on the athletic department's online store at athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store(.)