CLERMONT, Fla. (March 12, 2016) – Senior right-hander Tricia Hansen (Mansfield, Mass.) opened the season with six one-run innings in the circle on Saturday morning, but it was not enough, as the Franklin Pierce University softball team was clipped, 1-0, by Walsh in its season opener at Hancock Park. The Ravens would then fall via the eight-run rule, 10-2 in five innings, to Ohio Dominican in their second non-conference, neutral-site game of the day.

With the losses, Franklin Pierce opens its season at 0-2. Walsh improved to 6-10 with its win over the Ravens, while Ohio Dominican upped its record to 9-11.

In the first game, the first five innings went scoreless, before Walsh -- playing as the home team -- struck for the game's only run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Freshman catcher Abbey Yaugher started things with a two-out double to right field and was lifted for a pinch runner, in the form of freshman Mariah Rock. Rock came around to score when junior right fielder Nikki Newman followed with an RBI single back through the middle.

Hansen (0-1) went the distance in the circle for the Ravens in the opener. Over six innings, she allowed just the one run on eight hits, did not issue a walk and struck out five while taking the loss.

Sophomore right-hander Olivia Pifer (5-5) took the ball and went the distance for the Cavaliers to pick up the win with her third shutout of the season. Over seven scoreless innings, she allowed six hits, did not issue a walk and struck out eight.

In the second game, Ohio Dominican -- playing as the visiting team -- opened the scoring and took the lead for good with two runs in the top of the first inning. Sophomore shortstop Taylor Kline worked a leadoff walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and went to third on a single to left by sophomore second baseman Liz Sutter. Kline would score on an RBI single into left-center by senior left fielder Julia Suyak, which also moved Sutter to second. Sutter took third on a passed ball and then scored on a sacrifice fly to left by senior first baseman Kelsey Albanese.

The Panthers pushed the lead to 3-0 with a run in the top of the second. With two outs, senior center fielder Montana Fishel reached on an infield single and wound up on third on the play on an errant throw from Franklin Pierce senior third baseman Erin Wood (Dover, N.Y.). Fishel would score from there two batters later on an RBI bunt single by Sutter.

Ohio Dominican broke the game wide open in the top of the fourth, when it sent 13 batters to the plate and scored seven times to push the lead to 10-0. Franklin Pierce pitching issued four walks in the inning, each of which would come around to score. Junior designated player Casey Murdoch had the biggest blow of the inning, with a two-run single to center, while Fishel had an RBI infield single and senior catcher Brier Sanner drove in a run by drawing a bases-loaded walk.

Franklin Pierce scratched out two runs in the bottom of the fourth to cut the gap to 10-2. Sophomore center fielder Cassidy Sorenson (Billerica, Mass.) started things with a two-out single to left and came around to score when sophomore right fielder Jaclyn Cortese (Upton, Mass.) followed and clubbed an RBI double to left. Cortese would then score while senior second baseman Melissa Morgan (Clifton Park, N.Y.) reached on an error.

The Ravens could get no closer in the fifth inning, which led to the eight-run rule being invoked and 10-2 standing as the final score.

Senior right-hander Mandi Adee (Kinderhook, N.Y.) logged the first 3.2 innings in the circle for the Ravens. She was touched for eight runs (six earned) on eight hits, walked four, threw two wild pitches and struck out five while taking the loss (0-1).

On the other side of the ledger, sophomore right-hander Bailey Miller (2-6) threw the first four innings to pick up the win for Ohio Dominican. She allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits, did not issue a walk, threw a wild pitch and struck out three.

The Ravens return to the field with two neutral-site, non-conference games at Hancock Park on Sunday, as they continue their 12-game Florida trip. Franklin Pierce is slated to face Philadelphia at 9 a.m. and Caldwell at 11 a.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 baseball apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).