Caitlin Murphy drives in a pair in game one win

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (April 27, 2013) -- The Franklin Pierce University softball team picked up a 5-1 win in game one of Saturday's doubleheader at Merrimack, but then dropped an 8-0 decision in five innings in game two as the teams split their twinbill at Warrior Diamond in North Andover, Mass. The Ravens moved to 9-29 overall and 6-22 in the Northeast-10 (5-15 Northeast Division), while the Warriors moved to 19-22-1 and 12-11-1 in league play (10-9-1 NE Div).

Freshman hurler Tricia Hansen (Mansfield, Mass.) turned in a spectacular performance in the circle to pick up her first career collegiate victory, as she went all seven innings and struck out eight while scattering a run on two hits over that time.  

She retired 17 of the first 19 batters she faced (eight via strikeout), including 10 straight before Merrimack was finally able to get to her with a home run by Tawny Palmieri in the sixth inning. The solo shot did nothing to trip up Hansen, who retired the final four batters she faced to finish off the victory. She also showed great command of her pitches by yielding just one walk.

While Hansen was tossing a gem in the circle, Franklin Pierce's offense exploded for five runs, including three in the third inning to go up 4-0. Senior Jessica Furtado (Taunton, Mass.) worked a bases loaded walk to force in a run and freshman Caitlin Murphy (Braintree, Mass.) slapped an 0-2 pitch into center field for a two-run single, scoring both Alicia Dean (Danvers, Mass.) and Sam Conners (Jackson, N.J.).

Dean, who had two hits in the game, scored later in the fifth inning when sophomore Karissa Forzese (Methuen, Mass.) knocked her in with a sacrifice bunt.  Murphy and junior Ashley Noke (Cumberland, R.I.) joined Dean with two hits apiece, including Noke, who singled in a run in the first inning to get the day going.

Franklin Pierce couldn't carry the momentum over into game two, as Merrimack scored twice in both the second and fourth innings before busting open for four more in the fifth to set the eight-run rule into effect.

Franklin Pierce returns to action Sunday when the Ravens close out their 2013 season by playing host to Merrimack in a doubleheader at the FPU Softball Field in Rindge. The series will begin at 12 p.m., with the second game to begin at approximately at 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/FranklinPierceRavens). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce softball apparel can do so on the athletic department's online store at athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store(.)