WORCESTER, Mass. (April 12, 2015) – The Franklin Pierce University Ravens put up a total of six home runs over two games, including a pair each from junior Erin Wood (Dover, N.Y.) and freshman Samantha Bonvino (Milford, Mass.). However, the Ravens game up a total of 24 hits and committed four errors on the defensive side as they were only able to muster one win in two games, taking game one 8-7 and dropping game two 12-9 to the Assumption College Greyhounds in a double header on Sunday. The games were played on the campus of Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Franklin Pierce struck first in game one, as Wood connected with her first home run in the game in the top of the second inning, a solo shot to left field to give the Ravens the 1-0 edge early. The lead wouldn't last long, as Assumption would respond back with five runs in the bottom of the second off of pitcher Tricia Hansen (Mansfield, Mass.) to take the edge. The inning would be highlighted by a grand slam from sophomore Ashley Clark. The Greyhounds would tack on one more in the bottom of the third to lead 6-1 after three innings of play.

Then the Ravens put together offense in the ensuing innings. Graduate student Jamie Wiley (Cape Vincent, N.Y.) would start things off in the top of the fourth with a single into left field. After two fly outs to left field, freshman Jaclyn Cortese (Upton, Mass.) would step up to the plate and slash one out to left. The ball would be misplayed by the left fielder, and with two outs allowed Wiley to take off and run all the way from first to score, bringing the score to 6-2.

Franklin Pierce would then put up three runs each in the fifth and sixth innings, thanks to a pair of home runs. In the fifth, it would be a two-out rally that was started by freshman Cassidy Sorenson (Billerica, Mass.) as she doubled into left field, followed by another single up the middle by Wiley that scored Sorenson from second. With Wiley on first, Wood would connect for her second home run of the day, making the score 6-5 at the time.

The sixth brought the same luck, as the Ravens were able to bat through the order. Cortese would start things off and tie the game at 6-6 with a lead off solo home run to right center field for her first collegiate home run. After two walks to junior Courtney Caputo (Stony Brook, N.Y.) and Hansen, and a single by junior Julie Gallagher (Flanders, N.J.) would load the bases. That would set the stage for Sorenson to break the tie, and deliver a single up the middle to score Caputo and Hansen to take the 8-6 lead.

Hansen would surrender one run in the top of the seventh before freshman Aubrey Bianco (Marlboro, N.Y.) would record the final two outs and record her first career save, and first of the season.

Game two would bring much of the similar fireworks on the offensive side for both teams. The Ravens would start things off again in the first inning, striking first. Junior Melissa Morgan (Clifton Park, N.Y.) would draw a one-out walk, bringing up Bonvino next. The freshman would seize the opportunity and smash a pitch to center field for a two-run home run giving the Ravens the early 2-0 lead.

The Greyhounds would once again respond, and take the lead in the bottom of the inning, and wouldn't hold it for long. Despite a miscue from junior Morgan Cahill (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) that would lead to three unearned runs off of freshman Jenna Rodriguez (New Egypt, N.J.) in the bottom of the first, the Ravens would answer by spilling off five consecutive singles in a row, started by freshman Dominique Bisaccia (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) and Abbigael Cook (Greenville, R.I.) to tack on three runs, running the score to 5-3. This would be the final time the Ravens would hold control of the lead.

Franklin Pierce would surrender three runs in the bottom of the second, as Rodriguez would allow three hits and a walk to the top of the Greyhounds lineup, leaving the second with Assumption up 6-5.

After making the score 7-5 with a run in the third, Franklin Pierce would make another try at the lead in the fourth. Bisaccia would start things off again with her second hit of the day, followed by Cook reaching as well on a bunt base hit. Ostrander would single, loading the bases for Morgan who would ground out but gain an RBI on the play. The score would become 7-6 going into the bottom of the fourth.

From there, more Ravens miscues allowed three more runs to score, extending the Greyhounds lead out to 10-6 after four innings. A quiet fifth would only be the calm before the storm for the final two innings, as the Ravens would once again come within striking distance in the top of the sixth. After a one out walk by Morgan, Bonvino would follow that up by smacking her second home run of the game to bring the score to 10-8. Cahill would then step up and deliver a back-to-back solo home run to right field to bring the Ravens back within one run.

The excitement would stop there, as Assumption would quiet the Ravens by scoring two more in the bottom of the sixth before blanking Franklin Pierce in the top of the seventh, taking the win 12-9.

Wood's two home runs today and her one yesterday now give her eight career home runs in crimson and grey, surpassing current teammate Courtney Caputo for second on the All-Time Home Run list in program history, only sitting two behind former catcher Jessica Furtado, who left as the all-time leader with 10 career home runs.

Bisaccia and Bonvino would pace all Ravens on the day, each collecting a team-high three hits between the two games. Hansen would collect the win in the circle for game one, moving her record to 2-2 on the season. Rodriguez would take the loss in game two, moving her record to 0-2 on the year.

The Ravens return to the diamond tomorrow, Monday, April 13 as they come back to Rindge and take on Southern New Hampshire University in the friendly confines of Bisaccia Memorial Softball Complex for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce softball apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' brand new online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).