Tricia Hansen has solid all-around performance in pitching circle and at the dish in game one

EASTON, Mass. (April 25, 2013) -- The Franklin Pierce University softball team was swept by Stonehill in a doubleheader on Thursday afternoon at Father Gartland Field in Easton, Mass. The Skyhawks outslugged the Ravens, 12-8, in game one and then trimmed Franklin Pierce, 6-1, in game two to complete the three-game season series sweep. Franklin Pierce fell to 8-28 overall and 5-21 in the Northeast-10 (4-14 Northeast Division), while Stonehill improved to 23-22-1 and 15-10-1 in league play (10-7-1 NE Div).

The day's first game was one of the wildest contests for the Ravens in recent memory as both teams combined for 20 runs and 20 hits.

Stonehill scored all 12 of its runs over the first four innings, including a five-run outburst in the first frame. Franklin Pierce exploded early itself by scoring seven runs in the first three frames, including three each in the second and third, but the Ravens could not keep up the pace with the Skyhawks.

Freshman Melissa Morgan (Clifton Park, N.Y.) belted a pair of solo home runs, including in the top of the first to give the Ravens and early 1-0 advantage. Morgan's two blasts gave her four on the season, which is just one off the single season school-record mark of five set by Jessica Furtado (Taunton, Mass.) in 2012 and Marisa Giannone in 1997.

Morgan's classmate Sam Conners (Jackson, N.J.) also launched a long ball, which was a two-run shot to left-center field in the second inning. It was her first of two homers on the day as she also smacked a solo shot in the second game to account for Franklin Pierce's only scoring in the contest.

Megan Staudle went 2-for-2 at the dish for the Skyhawks and drove in three runs, including a homer, while also scoring twice. Nicole Eisenmann also jacked a home run and scored twice to aid Stonehill's attack.

Both pitching staffs were hit hard in the contest, but Stonehill's Lauren Esposito was able to navigate through the rough waters to earn the win to even her record at 6-6 on the year. She pitched the final five innings in relief and yielded three runs -- however none were earned following multiple errors from her fielders -- on four hits with a strikeout and a walk.

Rachel Allen (Hull, Mass.) started in the circle for the Ravens and took the loss to fall to 5-10 after going just two innings. Freshman Tricia Hansen (Mansfield, Mass.) provided two innings of no-hit relief, including striking out three and not issuing any walks. She had a solid all-around game by also stroking a pair of hits and scoring a run.

Stonehill clung to a minimal 1-0 lead in game two, but blew things open with five runs over the fourth and fifth innings. 

Hansen couldn't carry over the momentum of her strong game-one performance into game two as she was tagged with the loss. She struck out four and once again did not issue a walk, but six runs on 10 hits in 4.0 innings of work dropped her record to 0-11 on the year.

Lindsay McKillop pitched a complete-game victory for the Skyhawks as she scattered a run on three hits over 7.0 innings.

Franklin Pierce returns to action Saturday when the Ravens travel to North Andover, Mass. to take on Merrimack in a doubleheader beginning at 12 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(.)