Mandi Adee struck out four and yields only one earned run in solid start in game one

SALEM, Mass. (March 16, 2014) – The Franklin Pierce University softball team capped its opening weekend Sunday with a pair of tough losses on the final day of the Salem Invitational in Salem, Va. The Ravens dropped the day’s first game to Mercyhurst, 5-2, in the morning, while then coming up short in a 5-1 setback to Walsh in the afternoon. The Ravens fell to 1-5 on the season.

Sophomore hurlers Mandi Adee (Kinderhook, N.Y.) and Tricia Hansen (Mansfield, Mass.) each turned in strong, complete-game performances in the pitching circle, but a combined seven errors by the fielders on the day ruined their hopes for a win.

Adee went all seven innings in game one, and yielded just one earned run with four strikeouts and only one walk. However, four errors stymied the Ravens and her effort.

Franklin Pierce pushed its first run across in the bottom of the first inning, as Courtney Caputo (Stony Brook, N.Y.) reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second base, advanced to third on a passed ball, and followed by coming home on an error by the Mercyhurst catcher.

Caputo accounted for Franklin Pierce’s other run in the bottom of the seventh, as she ripped a solo home run to left-center field.

Hansen went 2-for-4 at the dish in the game, while Alicia Dean (Danvers, Mass.) and Julie Gallagher (Flanders, N.J.) each stroked a base hit.

Hansen, just like Adee, was dealing in game two, but three errors cost her bid for a win in the circle. Hansen allowed just one earned run as well, while striking out a pair.

Sydney Despres (Sterling, Mass.) provided the only run for the Ravens in the bottom of the second, as she ripped a solo shot down the left-field line. Hansen continued her hot stretch at the plate in game two, as she was 2-for-3 with a walk. Dean and Ashley Noke (Cumberland, R.I.) both pounded out a hit for the Ravens.

Franklin Pierce returns to action Wednesday when the Ravens travel to Manchester to face Southern New Hampshire in a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. The twin bill opens the Northeast-10 Conference portion of the Ravens’ 2014 schedule.

For more information on Franklin Pierce softball, please visit the team’s page at http://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 http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store(.)